New Delhi

Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif criticised skipper Shubman Gill for not giving spinner Kuldeep Yadav enough longer spells during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, saying that it reflects the lack of faith the skipper has in the wrist-spinner, who Kaif called a "unique gift".

Even in spin-friendly conditions where Manav Suthar took a ten-wicket haul and veteran Ravindra Jadeja took some valuable wickets, Kuldeep could get only one wicket and was used sparingly. While both Suthar and Jadeja got to bowl around 44 overs, Kuldeep could get just 25 overs across both innings in India's win by 165 runs.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said, "From how he was used, it is clear that Shubman Gill doesn't have enough faith in Kuldeep Yadav. From my point of view, you would not get a unique bowler like Kuldeep that often. They come just once or twice in history. We may get Ravindra Jadeja's replacement in the future, like we have Suthar; then we had Washington Sundar after Ashwin, but Kuldeep is a unique gift."

He also highlighted the need to give wrist spinners longer spells so that they keep him in rhythm and allow him to rectify his mistakes.

"When you give a bowler a spell, especially a wrist-spinner, you need to give him a long spell. The short spells are not helping Kuldeep. Longer spells give you the chance to rectify mistakes. You need time to get into rhythm. Shubman Gill did not back him in that sense," he said.

He also said that he agrees with a previous observation made by former head coach Ravi Shastri that Kuldeep is India's number one spinner in overseas conditions and will play a major role on flat wickets or pitches with less turn on offer, which could be seen during two Tests against New Zealand away from home from November 19 onwards.

"I agree with Ravi Shastri, who said that Kuldeep is our No. 1 spinner in overseas conditions. You just need accuracy on turning tracks. You will somehow get a wicket by bowling at the same area. But you won't get such turning tracks in New Zealand. I feel Kuldeep will play a major role on flat pitches or pitches where there would not be much turn on offer. You will have to keep his confidence high as captain and team management," Kaif said.

However, for the second Test starting in Colombo, Kaif feels India could give a debut cap to Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain, feeling that the right-hander could be handy against left-handed batters such as Niroshan Dickwella and Sonal Dinusha, who were among the runs at Galle.

"I feel India might be considering playing Saransh Jain in Colombo. The two batters who scored runs, Dickwella and Sonal, are both lefties. There came a time when Shubman Gill was searching for an off-spinner when they were batting. Because of Sri Lanka's in-form lefties, maybe Kuldeep will have to face the axe. It was Suthar vs Saransh earlier; now it will be Kuldeep vs Saransh," he signed off.

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Kuldeep has just featured in 19 Tests since his debut in 2018, taking 80 wickets at an average of 23.36, with four four-wicket hauls and five five-wicket hauls to his name, with best figures of 5/40. This year, he has played two Tests, taking just four wickets at an average of over 41.

The second Test against Sri Lanka starts in Colombo from August 23 onwards.