# Kuldeep rested to assess body, not fitness issue: coach

2026-08-10T01:03:28+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

Kuldeep Yadav did not bowl in the second innings of the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI because he wanted to assess his body after a heavy workload, India's spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said on Sunday. Bahutule said Kuldeep bowled 18 overs in the match and 2-3 overs before it, and the decision was purely precautionary, allaying fitness concerns. Other spinners Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain were given extended outings as India evaluated options ahead of the first Test in Galle. Shubman Gill returned to the game after being kept out on day one as a precaution following a blow to his hand. Devdutt Padikkal scored a century to strengthen his case for a place in the playing XI. India are fifth in the World Test Championship standings and want to make the most of the Sri Lanka series, Bahutule added.

## Coverage

- sportstar.thehindu.com <https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/kuldeep-yadav-fitness-update-rest-spin-bowling-india-gill-injury-update-cricket-sri-lanka-tests/article71325577.ece>
- sports.ndtv.com <https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/kuldeep-yadav-no-given-a-single-over-in-2nd-innings-of-practice-test-coach-explains-why-11887049#publisher=newsstand>
- rediff.com <https://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/kuldeep-should-be-playing-regularly-harbhajan/20260810.htm>

Tags: cricket warm-up, Devdutt Padikkal, India vs Sri Lanka Test, Kuldeep Yadav, Sairaj Bahutule, Shubman Gill
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