{
  "id": 2930146,
  "title": "No need to fake Kuldeep Yadav’s illness: Sitanshu Kotak",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/no-need-to-fake-kuldeep-yadavs-illness-sitanshu-kotak",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-24T03:02:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-vs-sri-lanka/no-need-to-fake-kuldeep-yadavs-illness-sitanshu-kotak/articleshow/133449974.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, has firmly denied claims that Kuldeep Yadav feigned illness to avoid playing in the Colombo Test. Kotak confirmed that the left-arm wrist spinner was genuinely suffering from viral fever, stating that there is \"no need to fake\" his absence from the team. The coach emphasized that if the team requires a spinner and Yadav is unfit to play, there is no justification for pretending he was not well enough to take the field.\n\nThe news came as a positive update for Rishabh Pant, who had to retire hurt on two after being struck on the left wrist by a Lahiru Kumara bouncer shortly after the break on Day 1. Pant received medical attention before leaving the field, but Kotak assured that he was expected to resume his innings on Monday. India's score stands at 300/5 after the first day, with Dhruv Jurel and Saransh Jain currently unbeaten.\n\nThe opening day also witnessed a heated exchange between India's opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka's pacer Asitha Fernando, following Jaiswal's dismissal. Kotak described the incident as a \"heat of the moment\" event, but he believed Jaiswal should not have approached the bowler. Sri Lanka's fast bowling coach, Ryan van Niekerk, termed the confrontation an \"overflow of emotion,\" leaving any disciplinary action to be decided by match referee Andy Pycroft.",
  "summary": "Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed Kuldeep Yadav's viral fever, dismissing speculation about his absence. Rishabh Pant retired hurt after being struck on the wrist by a bouncer. He is expected to resume his innings on Monday, aiding the team's score. Tempers flared between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando following Jaiswal's dismissal. Kotak called the confrontation a heat of the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Shubman Gill doesn’t have enough faith in Kuldeep Yadav: Mohammad Kaif",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/shubman-gill-doesnt-have-enough-faith-in-kuldeep-yadav-mohammad-kaif",
        "published": "2026-08-22T07:12:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}