"He'll definitely ask for a promotion" - Former South Africa captain's huge statement on Kuldeep Yadav amid IND vs SA 2025 2nd Test 

Former South Africa skipper Shaun Pollock believes Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav would soon ask for a promotion in the batting order. His comments came after the 30-year-old's resilient batting performance in the side's ongoing Guwahati Test against South Africa.

Kuldeep toiled hard for 134 balls and scored 19 runs in India's first innings of the match. He was sent in as a nightwatchman at No. 4 after the hosts lost two early wickets in the run chase on Day 4.

He remained unbeaten on four off 22 balls as India finished 27/2 at stumps. The side are chasing a daunting 549-run target in the must-win Test.

Commenting on Kuldeep's impressive batting, Pollock said on Cricbuzz:

"Kuldeep showed what he was capable of. He's at the crease, and if he pulls off another innings like that, he'll definitely ask for a promotion."

During the discussion, former India spinner Murali Kartik also pointed out how Kuldeep has looked "rock solid" at the crease. He suggsted that the bowler's impressive batting will give confidence to the remaining Indian batters. He remarked:

"I think he'll give a lot of confidence to the batters. He'll actually give them a template of how to bat because he's been rock solid. Yes, he's had the oddball which has shot at him, but that's fine."

Notably, Kuldeep Yadav did a fine job with the ball as well, picking up a four-wicket haul in South Africa's first innings. However, he remained wicketless in the subsquent innings as the Proteas declared at 260/5.

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"I don't believe it was a road" - Shaun Pollock's reaction to Kuldeep Yadav's press conference comments

Speaking at a press conference after Day 2, Kuldeep Yadav described the Guwahati pitch as a road. He opined that there was nothing much on offer for the bowlers on the surface.

However, Shaun Pollock didn't agree with Kuldeep's assement. He remarked that the pitch could have been termed as a road had both teams registered big totals. The cricketer-turned-commentator said during the same discussion:

"A road is only a 500 plus 500, then only you can say a road. That's why we, as commentators, often say it looks this way, but we'll reserve judgment until we see the opposition bat or bowl on a certain surface. I don't believe it was a road."

South Africa need to pick up eight wickets on Day 5 to seal victory. India, on the other hand, are still 522 runs behind the target .