India's Kuldeep Yadav Replaced by Stand‑in as Squad Prepares for Colombo Test

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that a stand‑in will occupy the slot traditionally held by left‑arm fast‑bowler Kuldeep Yadav as the national side fine‑tunes its XI for the second Test in Colombo. The move comes after the first match in the series, where team management evaluated the balance of the attack and decided to experiment with a different bowling option.

Team India arrived in Sri Lanka earlier this week and has been conducting practice sessions at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Coaches and senior players are using the period to assess pitch conditions and adapt strategies, with the stand‑in expected to provide a fresh pace variation.

While Kuldeep Yadav remains part of the broader squad, the decision to field a replacement for the upcoming Test reflects the side's flexible approach to squad rotation ahead of the crucial series finale.