India's ranking coach Sitanshu Kotak clarified the situation surrounding Kuldeep Yadav's absence in the second test match between India and Sri Lanka, which took place in Colombo starting August 23 (Sunday).
Kotak stated that Kuldeep Yadav did indeed suffer from viral fever, and there was no need to invent an illness to exclude him from the team.
Kuldeep is a left-arm spinner and is considered an important player for the team.
After he was not included in the starting lineup, questions arose on social media regarding his health condition. Kotak rejected these assumptions, clarifying that Kuldeep was not in condition to take the field.
The coach emphasized that if the team needs a spinner but Kuldeep is not playing, there is no need to fabricate a reason for his indisposition. He stated directly that Kuldeep's health was not right, which is why he could not participate in the match.
Furthermore, during the first day of the match, a verbal altercation occurred on the field between Yashvi Vasival and Sri Lankan fast bowler Asitha Fernando. Kotak called this a temporary surge of emotions, but admitted that Vasival should not have approached the bowler.