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‘Don’t be desperate for wickets’: Gautam Gambhir’s message to Kuldeep Yadav

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NEW DELHI: Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed Kuldeep Yadav after the left-arm wrist spinner had a quiet first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Kuldeep managed just one wicket across the two innings, bowling 25 overs in the match. He struggled to find his usual rhythm and control, while Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja did most of the damage to the Sri Lankan batting line-up.

But ahead of the second and final Test in Colombo, beginning on Sunday, Gambhir had a clear message for the spinner.

“Bowl your best spell, don’t be desperate for wickets,” Gambhir said.

‘Best bowling attack that can get us 20 wickets’

India returned to winning ways in the World Test Championship after a 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday.

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Four days after that win, the visitors will be back in action in Colombo for the second and final Test. India will be pleased with most aspects of their performance in Galle, but Kuldeep’s form remains one of the major talking points.

Gambhir did not fully reveal whether India would stick to their winning combination for the Colombo Test. However, he made it clear that the team’s priority would be to field a bowling attack capable of taking 20 wickets.

“We will try to field the best bowling attack that can get us 20 wickets,” Gambhir said.

Kuldeep’s quiet outing in Galle has put the spotlight on his place in the playing XI. The left-arm wrist spinner dismissed Kamindu Mendis during his opening spell in the first innings but could not make much of an impact after that.

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He bowled 25 overs in the match and finished with just one wicket.

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‘It’s captain’s decision’

Kuldeep did not bowl much in the first Test, especially when the other Indian bowlers were making regular breakthroughs.

Asked if Kuldeep was under-bowled, Gambhir said it was a decision for captain Shubman Gill based on what he felt was right during the match.

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“It’s captain’s decision depending on what he feels right during a period,” Gambhir said.

With Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja bowling well, Kuldeep had to wait for his opportunities. When he was brought into the attack, he struggled to find his usual lines and lengths.

However, India may still continue with Kuldeep because of his experience and quality. The team management will now have to decide whether to give him another chance or bring in someone like Indore off-spinner Saransh Jain.

Saransh has a good First-Class record, having taken 188 wickets in 54 matches for Madhya Pradesh. But Kuldeep remains one of India’s most experienced and skilled spinners.

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Sports

Angers vs LOSC Lille Prediction and Betting Tips

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10 minutes ago

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22 August 2026

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Angers and LOSC Lille get underway in the 2026-27 French Ligue 1 campaign when they square off at the Stade Raymond Kopa on Sunday. Having won the four meetings between the teams since August 2024, Davide Ancelotti’s men will be aiming to extend their two-year streak against the hosts and secure a seventh straight league victory on the road.

It was another forgettable league display from Angers last season as they secured a 13th-placed finish in the Ligue 1 standings, just four points above the relegation playoff spot.

Stephane Gilli’s side lost 16 of their 34 league games, while picking up nine wins and nine draws to collect 36 points, equalling their total points tally from the 2024-25 season, when they finished 14th in the table.

Angers head into Sunday’s season curtain-raiser without a win in nine straight Ligue 1 matches (4D 5L), but they will draw inspiration from their solid display in pre-season, where they picked up two wins and two draws from their five friendly games.

Elsewhere, Lille enjoyed an impressive league campaign last season, when they clinched third place in the Ligue 1 standings to secure a return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2022.

Ancelotti’s side picked up 18 wins and seven draws from their 34 league matches to collect 61 points, just two points above fifth-placed Olympique Marseille in the Europa League qualifying places.

Like Angers, Lille head into Sunday’s season opener off the back of a solid pre-season campaign, where they picked up two wins and two draws from five matches.

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Angers vs LOSC Lille Head-To-Head and Key Numbers

  • With nine wins from the last 21 meetings between the sides, Lille boast a slight upper hand in the history of this fixture.
  • Angers have picked up two fewer wins in that time, while the spoils have been shared on five occasions.
  • Lille have won each of their last four games against Angers, scoring six goals and keeping four clean sheets since a 1-0 loss in April 2023.
  • Angers are without a win in six straight Ligue 1 home games, losing three and picking up three draws since a 1-0 victory over Toulouse back in February.

Angers vs LOSC Lille Prediction

While they will aim to continue their form from pre-season into the new league campaign, Angers will need to be at their best against a well-drilled Lille side who have won their last four encounters.

Ancelotti’s side are on a run of six consecutive away wins in the league, and we see them coming away with the desired result here.

Prediction: Angers 0-2 LOSC Lille

Angers vs LOSC Lille Betting Tips

Tip 1: Result – Lille to win

Tip 2: Over 2.5 goals – No (There have been fewer than three goals scored in the last eight meetings between the two teams)

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Tip 3: Over 4.5 cards – No (There have also been fewer than five bookings in four of the last five meetings between the two teams)