New Delhi, August 11: Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Farveez Maharoof believes that the absence of retired off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will significantly impact the Indian team in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. Maharoof stated that the spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Manav Suthar could play crucial roles for India in this series.
In an online discussion hosted by Sony Sports Network on Tuesday, Maharoof remarked, “Ashwin’s absence will be greatly felt. Additionally, the absence of Virat, Rohit, and Jasprit will also be noticeable. These players are legends of the game, and their records speak for themselves. Whenever Ashwin toured Sri Lanka, he performed exceptionally well. In Sri Lanka, it’s all about the turn, but if you look closely, it’s the bounce that helps spinners take wickets. Ravi Ashwin would have been ideal for bowling in these conditions. Team India will also miss Washington Sundar greatly.”
He added, “Filling Ashwin’s shoes is difficult. The numbers tell the whole story—not just his bowling but also his batting at number six was quite significant.”
Discussing the other Indian spinners, Maharoof expressed his admiration for how Manav Suthar made his debut against Afghanistan a few months ago and how well he bowled in the warm-up game. “I really like his pace and bounce. But the big question is whether India will play both Jadeja and Suthar in the same team. Ideally, you would want two left-arm spinners, and Saransh Jain has yet to make his debut, but he looks like a good bowler. There will be high expectations from him against a quality and experienced batting lineup like Sri Lanka’s. If you ask me, I would go with Kuldeep Yadav along with two left-arm spinners.”
Maharoof believes that Kuldeep Yadav is likely to start in Galle. “In the last Test against Afghanistan, he took many wickets. Therefore, I see India fielding three spinners: Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and either Manav Suthar or Saransh Jain. Ideally, you would prefer an off-spinner. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Manav Suthar performs just as well, as I think his ability to extract bounce from the surface could be beneficial in Galle.”
On the challenges of bowling in Galle, Maharoof emphasized that adapting to local wind conditions will be crucial for Indian slow bowlers, while Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya will be the home team’s main spin weapon.
“Prabath Jayasuriya will be the key weapon. That’s for sure. We’ve nicknamed him the King of Galle because he has taken many wickets there. He knows how to bowl with the wind. The wind in Galle will be a significant factor, especially since spinners can work with drift. This is something Indian spinners must ensure when they start training in Galle.”
Regarding the Indian batting lineup, Maharoof stated that wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will be the biggest threat for Sri Lanka. “He can turn the match single-handedly. Pant is on his first Test tour to Sri Lanka. He managed to score 28 runs in a successful chase of 207, demonstrating his explosive style. Pant can completely change the game in just half an hour or 45 minutes. We’ve seen him do it before. He has the X-factor and is allowed to play his natural game. He can perform well against left-arm spinners or off-spinners.”
He added, “I think players like KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel take fewer risks. They play excellently, and it’s a pleasure to watch them. But for me, Rishabh Pant could be the dangerous player. I’m also eager to see Devdutt Padikkal’s batting. I believe Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be crucial. Once they settle in after the first 10-15 balls, it will be tough to get them out.”
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