“Kuldeep spot still uncertain in Indian team,” says Mohammad Kaif

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif feels that Kuldeep Yadav is far from sealing his spot in the Indian team, especially for the longest format. Kuldeep Yadav made a staggering return to the Test setup after 22 months. He last played against England in Chennai, where he returned with two wickets across both innings.

In the first Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram, Kuldeep picked up a five-fer in the first innings, his third in eight Test matches and grabbed three more in the second innings. With eight wickets in his maiden outing after nearly two years, he was named Player of the Match.

The left-arm leg-spinner does not likely to trump the first choice spinners in the Indian Test squad, reckons Kaif. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will continue to be first-choice spinners for the Indian team. Although he acknowledges that this performance after such a long comeback holds a special place for him, he feels there is a long way to go before he becomes a sure-shot starter.

“This Man of the Match trophy will hold a great place in his career now. Because India will still be looking at Ashwin and Jadeja. His place is still not certain in the Indian team. Against Australia if India play two spinners. Jadeja and Ashwin will still be the choices. He is still the third spinner so the challenge is still there.

What he needs to do is to make the most of the chances he gets. That five-wicket haul in the first innings on this pitch was huge. It showed class,” he said.

Kuldeep Yadav, who alongside Yuzvendra Chahal was a first-choice spinner until the 2019 World Cup, went out of favor after the duo were proven to be ineffective in the English conditions. Once they split up, both Kuldeep and Chahal struggled to find consistent game time, especially Kuldeep, who saw his white-back form deteriorate.

He did not have the best of outings with Kolkata Knight Riders last edition of the IPL and was sold to Delhi Capitals in the mega auction conducted this year. He found some form with the new franchise, picking up 21 wickets in 14 matches and is now back with the national setup after some good performances in domestic cricket as well.

Kuldeep Yadav will be in action again during the second Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur, starting on December 22.