Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta has firmly endorsed Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion in the playing eleven for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, scheduled from 15 to 29 August, asserting that the wrist-spinner is indispensable in conditions that demand a heavily spin-oriented attack.

Dasgupta's Case for Kuldeep

Speaking on his YouTube channel on Saturday, Dasgupta left little room for ambiguity. 'Kuldeep has to be there. I am talking about four spinners, and you will definitely play with three spinners. So, I agree. Yes, I saw him in England, and a lot of people saw him too. Unfortunately, the folks who make a team didn't see him, and that's a different issue,' he said.

Kuldeep is currently featuring in one-day camp games for Yorkshire in England, having gone unused during India's 2-1 ODI series defeat there. Across 18 Tests, the left-arm wrist-spinner has claimed 79 wickets. He is expected to form part of a spin-heavy attack alongside a returning Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, and Saransh Jain when the Sri Lanka series gets underway.

Squad Selection and Washington Sundar's Absence

Dasgupta described the squad selection as broadly on expected lines, particularly given that Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the first Test due to a hamstring injury. 'I think it is a good squad. According to the conditions, seamers are fewer and spinners are more. I think there might be an opportunity where you can play with four spinners,' he noted.

He added that having an extra spinner in the squad was a prudent call given Sri Lanka's historically spin-friendly surfaces. 'Ideally, Washi would have been there as the tour's first-choice spinner. But, due to injury, he is not there, and I think it is on expected lines. I can't think of a name that should have been there, and it is not there in the squad,' Dasgupta said.

India's WTC Standing and the Transition Question

Shifting focus to the broader picture, Dasgupta urged India to temporarily set aside the pressure of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final and instead prioritise rebuilding the Test unit. India currently sit fifth in the WTC standings with a points percentage of 48.15.

'I feel that at this time, we should leave the WTC qualification behind for some time being. The thing that I should pay attention to, according to me, is — how do you bring this Indian Test team back to the 2020-2021 team?' he said. Dasgupta was alluding to India's dominant phase when they won series both at home and in challenging overseas conditions.

Long-Term Vision Over Short-Term Fixes

Dasgupta drew a pointed analogy to illustrate his thinking: 'Either we can walk with a band-aid on, or we can take a rest with a stitch, focus on the injury, and then we can walk with 100% fitness.' He cautioned that an exclusive focus on winning the current WTC cycle could push the team toward shortcuts at the expense of genuine development.

He also highlighted the richness of India's upcoming fixture list — featuring Tests in turning Sri Lankan conditions, seaming New Zealand tracks, and five home Tests against Australia — as a rare grooming opportunity. 'Then, you might not get a better variety than this, and I would look at it from that point of view and not worry too much about WTC of this cycle. How can I dominate the next 2-3 cycles? I will think more about that,' he concluded. With the Sri Lanka series fast approaching, the spotlight will be on whether the selectors heed calls to hand Kuldeep a central role.