India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak says Kuldeep Yadav is benched from the second Test against Sri Lanka because of viral fever, adding that there is “no need to fake illness.” The remarks come in the context of questions around Kuldeep’s absence from the playing XI.
The reports describe Kotak addressing the situation directly, stating that the decision is linked to illness rather than any deliberate misrepresentation. While coverage focuses on Kotak’s comment, the common points across outlets are that Kuldeep does not play in the second Test and that the stated reason is a viral fever diagnosis. The discussion centers on the team management explanation for selection, rather than on changes to other parts of the squad or performance details.
Overall, the different coverage largely reflects the same core message: Kotak attributes Kuldeep’s benching to health concerns ahead of the second Test, framing the issue as medically driven and rejecting any suggestion that the player’s status was fabricated.
