Former India batter-turned-commentator Cheteshwar Pujara was slightly critical of India spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling performance on Day 3 of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka as well. Pujara said that he could have bowled better against the left-handed duo of Sonal Dinusha (100) and Niroshan Dickwella (80) as well. Responding to India’s first innings total of 462 in Galle on Monday, August 17, Sri Lanka were struggling at 90-5. However, Dinusha and Dickwella added 146 runs for the sixth wicket. Sri Lanka eventually posted 284 as well.

During a discussion on Cricinfo, Pujara said: “Kuldeep was bowling well. I was little surprised by Kuldeep and Shubman’s strategy of going wide of off stump. They could have stuck to the stump line. You have to keep the stumps in play. Kuldeep can flight the ball. When you go outside the off stump, the only way you can pick up a wicket is by getting a top edge. He should have bowled slightly better against left-handers.”

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While sharing his views on the century stand between Dinusha and Dickwella on Day 3 of the Galle Test, Pujara added that not only Kuldeep Yadav but the two left-arm spinners – Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar – also struggled while bowling against the two left-handers as well.

“When both the left-handers were dominating, all our spinners struggled to bowl against them. The batters were sweeping and reverse-sweeping. That was a phase I think our spinners could have been slightly better. Once the ball got softer, our spinners were finding it challenging to spin the ball and to generate that pace and nip off the pitch,” Cheteshwar Pujara concluded.