Veteran commentator Sanjay Manjrekar showed sympathy for veteran India spinner Kuldeep Yadav ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, starting at Colombo on August 23. After a poor show in the series opener at Galle, his place is in doubt for the second Test as well. Despite India winning by a huge 165 runs, Kuldeep Yadav failed to pick up even one wicket across the two innings and conceded 103 runs off 25 overs as well.

Talking about Kuldeep’s potential exclusion for the second Test, Manjrekar said on his Instagram handle: “Kuldeep Yadav could be dropped, and you feel sorry because that’s been the story of his career. Yet, the management could also play him to give him some confidence. If India plays an off-spinner in place of Kuldeep Yadav, it’s understandable. That may just make the spin combination a little better.”

“Three left-arm spinners bowling proved to be a bit of a problem in the last Test when two left-handers got together. So an off-spinner for a left-arm spinner will make the Indian attack more potent because there will be variety. And an off-spinner, with DRS, is almost something you need in a team,” he stated.

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However, Sanjay Manjrekar also urged Kuldeep Yadav to work on his bowling strategy, moving away from faster speeds and a flatter trajectory in the first Test against Sri Lanka as well. Instead, he asked him to shift his line to outside off-stump and reduce his pace as well.

“Kuldeep also needs to look at what he did in the last Test and the way he bowled. Over the years, there has been so much scrutiny on his speed in the air and the flight, and how the ball doesn’t come quickly off the pitch. So he has almost committed himself to bowling quick and flatter, yet the ball wasn’t coming quickly off the pitch,” said Manjrekar.

“He must still look to bowl slowly with the odd ball in the mid 80s. And that line has to be outside off instead of middle stump with more flight. If he bowls that line slowly and with flight in the 75-85 speed range and bowls it outside off, I guarantee you that he’ll get at least three wickets per innings,” Sanjay Manjrekar concluded.