Galle: India could field all their three left arm spinners – Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar against Sri Lanka for First Test at spin friendly Galle Stadium, a tactical move that could trouble Sri Lanka.
With the surface expected to favour spin as the match progresses, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel dropped a strong hint that the three left-armers could be India’s preferred spin combination.
“Kuldeep is there and he’s an attacking sort of bowler. For us, his experience and class can’t be overlooked. They’re all different in their own way — one (Suthar) turns it a bit more, one (Jadeja) is slightly more accurate. I don’t think three left-arm spinners are a massive concern for us. It’s about how (captain Shubman) Gill uses them at certain times. In terms of skill, they have what it takes to get 20 wickets for us,” Morkel told reporters in Galle on Thursday.
Jadeja is an automatic pick, while Suthar impressed in the recent tour game in Sri Lanka. Kuldeep, meanwhile, is a left-arm wrist-spinner.
The pitch had a brownish look two days before the Test and is expected to offer good batting conditions initially before turning increasingly.
“For sure, it’s a good-looking surface. I’d be slightly surprised if it goes the other way. Traditionally, at this venue, the first two days belong to the batting side, or your first innings. So that will be important to whatever happens at the toss. If you bat first, make sure you go big; if you bowl first, get the ball in the right areas,” Morkel said.
India could also opt for three pacers — Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar, who took 10 wickets for India ‘A’ during their shadow tour of Sri Lanka last month and is in line for his Test debut.
Morkel said the heat, humidity and the Kookaburra ball going soft early would test India’s quicks. He urged them to bowl short, high-intensity spells and make the most of the conditions. “It’s about the mindset. As a fast bowler, if you’re going to bowl short spells, put energy into the ball and hit good areas, you’ll always have an opportunity,” he said.
Morkel also stressed the need for India’s quicks to be “street-smart” once the ball loses its hardness.
