India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has hinted at inclusion of three left-arm spinners in the playing eleven for the first Test of the series against Sri Lanka, starting on August 15 at Galle International Stadium. On spin-friendly tracks, left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, finger spinners Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja may feature in the side that takes the field, leaving an injured Washington Sundar's replacement, Saransh Jain on the bench. He reckons that the trio has the skill to get 20 wickets in a Test.
“Kuldeep is there, and he's the attacking sort of bowler and for us, his experience and class can't look past. So yeah, I think for us they're all different in their way,” Morkel told the media on August 13.
“So one (Suthar) turns a bit more, one (Jadeja) is slightly more accurate and I don't think it's a (three left-arm spinners) massive concern for us.
“It’s just how Gill is going to use those guys at certain times. But yeah, I mean in terms of skill they've got the skill to get the 20 wickets for us,” he added.
How the left-arm spin trio fared in warm-up fixture
In the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June, Kuldeep was wicketless in the first innings and bagged three in the second. He took two wickets in the first innings of the three-day practice game against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) XI and did not bowl in the second.
Jadeja was rested for the one-off Afghanistan Test. On his comeback in the warm-up fixture in Colombo, he accounted for two wickets each in both innings. He has a good record against Sri Lanka as well.
If Suthar gets a chance in Galle, it will be his first away Test. On his Test debut against the Afghan side, he registered a six-wicket haul in the first innings. In the absence of Sundar, Suthar made an impact with the bat against SLC XI, scoring 41 runs from 90 balls at no.7.
However, if Suthar does not play, Jain is likely to make his Test debut and provide variety to the spin attack. He was wicketless in the practice game against SLC XI.
Nabi set to be benched?
Morkel's comments also ensured that it is a toss-up between Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar for the second pacer spot alongside Mohammed Siraj in Jasprit Bumrah's absence. Krishna took one wicket in the warm-up whereas Brar claimed three. Brar is yet to make his Test debut.
Auqib Nabi who got his maiden Test call-up is highly likely to remain on the bench and wait for a chance.