India's WTC final hopes and spin succession hinge on Sri Lanka Tests, says Murali Kartik
Synopsis
With Ashwin retired and Jadeja in his final chapter, India's spin succession is genuinely unresolved — and Murali Kartik says the Galle and Colombo Tests are the clearest audition yet. Kuldeep Yadav, 18 Tests in eight years, faces fresh competition from Manav Suthar's seven-wicket debut. The next fortnight could define India's spin identity for years.
Key Takeaways
Former spinner Murali Kartik called the India vs Sri Lanka two-Test series, starting Saturday in Galle , crucial for both WTC final qualification and spin succession planning.
Kuldeep Yadav has played only 18 Tests since his 2017 debut and just five since Ashwin's retirement , with Washington Sundar often preferred.
Manav Suthar took a seven-wicket haul against Afghanistan in June , adding competitive pressure on Kuldeep for a spin leadership role.
Kartik stressed consistent man-management — not batting ability — as the key to getting the best out of Kuldeep.
Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya was flagged as a significant threat, with both Galle and SSC Colombo expected to offer spin-friendly conditions.
India have travelled with a large contingent of reserve spinners to aid preparation, though Kartik noted match time remains irreplaceable.
Former India left-arm spinner Murali Kartik has said the upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka — beginning Saturday in Galle — is pivotal not just for India's World Test Championship (WTC) final qualification but also for resolving the pressing question of who leads the spin attack once Ravindra Jadeja steps away from international cricket.
The Transition Challenge
India's red-ball setup is navigating one of its most significant generational shifts in years. The retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ravichandran Ashwin have reshaped the squad's core. Jadeja, though still active, is, in Kartik's words, in 'the twilight years of his career.' That makes the performances of Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, and debutant Saransh Jain across Galle and Colombo all the more consequential.
'Firstly, it is a crucial tour, very important from the point of view of not just the spinners alone — also the WTC because if we are serious about Test cricket,' Kartik said in an interaction facilitated by Sony Sports Network on Wednesday. 'At number five, our fortunes haven't been great in red ball cricket of late, which is well-documented and everyone knows it.'
Kuldeep Yadav's Crossroads
Kuldeep Yadav enters this series at a career inflection point. Despite debuting in 2017, the left-arm wrist-spinner has managed only 18 Test appearances — a figure that reflects years of being kept out by team combinations, injuries, and the dominance of Ashwin and Jadeja. Even after Ashwin's retirement, Kuldeep has played just five Tests, claiming one five-wicket haul, with Washington Sundar frequently preferred ahead of him. Suthar's impressive seven-wicket haul against Afghanistan in June has added a new dimension to the competition.
'Look, Kuldeep Yadav has been a match-winner for India. But, unfortunately for him, it played out differently when he had Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid at the helm,' Kartik noted. 'When you think of what happened in England, everybody kept saying during the course of those five Test matches, 'Where is Kuldeep? Where is Kuldeep?' And Kuldeep didn't play — he was sitting out.'
Kartik framed the Sri Lanka series as the clearest opportunity yet to answer the leadership question. 'After the likes of Anil and Harbhajan, Ashwin and Jadeja, depending on what the team management wanted, one of them was always playing. Those are very, very big shoes to fill. So, can Kuldeep Yadav be the leader? I think we will find out during the course of this series,' he said.
Man-Management Over Batting Ability
Kartik pushed back on narratives that Kuldeep's batting limitations are the primary obstacle to his selection, arguing instead that consistent man-management is the real key to unlocking the bowler's best. 'You have to look at him solely as a spin bowler and he is a wonderful bowler. He is a match winner. We have seen him pick wickets in different countries. That is the hallmark of a good spinner,' he said.
'When you are treated like you are the match winner, then that's the kind of stuff which you get from a bowler like that. It's about making any bowler, any player feel wanted... Humans are involved and you want to make them feel good. I just hope that if you handle Kuldeep Yadav really well, you are going to get the best out of him,' Kartik added.
Sri Lanka's Spin Threat and India's Preparation
Kartik also flagged the threat posed by Sri Lanka's own spin arsenal, particularly left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who he described as 'one of their better bowlers of late.' He noted that conditions at both Galle and the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo are likely to assist spin, with SSC having turned significantly in India's previous visit — a game remembered for Wriddhiman Saha's exceptional keeping.
'Having seen India bat against spin of late, every team might want to attack India. Can you think of an Indian team being attacked by spin? Nobody would have thought like that,' Kartik observed. He acknowledged that India have bolstered their touring party with reserve spinners to aid match preparation, but cautioned that 'match time is very different from nets time.'
With the WTC cycle leaving little margin for error, how India's emerging spin options perform over these two Tests could shape the team's red-ball identity for the next half-decade.
Point of View
And Jadeja's twilight makes urgency unavoidable. Kuldeep Yadav's Test record — 18 appearances in eight years — is less a reflection of his ability and more an indictment of inconsistent selection philosophy. India's tendency to pick spinners situationally rather than building them as match-winners has cost continuity. The Sri Lanka series is a genuine test of whether the current management has learned from that pattern, or whether Kuldeep will once again find himself watching from the dressing room as the debate about his future continues without him.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the India vs Sri Lanka Tests important for the WTC final?
India's standing in the World Test Championship cycle means every series result directly affects their points tally and qualification prospects for the final. Murali Kartik noted that India's red-ball form 'at number five' has not been strong recently, making wins in Galle and Colombo essential.
Who is competing for India's spin-bowling leadership role?
Kuldeep Yadav , Manav Suthar , and Saransh Jain are the primary candidates under scrutiny. Suthar drew attention with a seven-wicket haul against Afghanistan in June, while Kuldeep remains the most experienced of the group despite limited recent Test opportunities.
Why has Kuldeep Yadav played so few Tests despite his talent?
Kuldeep has managed only 18 Test appearances since debuting in 2017 , largely due to team combinations that prioritised Ashwin and Jadeja, recurring injuries, and — even after Ashwin's retirement — the selection of Washington Sundar ahead of him. Kartik argued the issue is one of man-management and consistent selection rather than ability.
What threat does Sri Lanka's spin attack pose to India?
Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya is considered Sri Lanka's primary weapon, and Kartik warned that India's recent vulnerability against spin means the hosts are likely to target their batting with spin from the outset. Conditions at both Galle and SSC Colombo are expected to assist spinners.
What did Murali Kartik say about Kuldeep Yadav's batting?
Kartik dismissed batting ability as the core issue, saying Kuldeep 'is somebody who can definitely hold the bat' and has batted as a night watchman. He argued Kuldeep should be selected and managed purely as a match-winning spin bowler, and that consistent backing would bring the best out of him.
