India should play three spinners on West Indies tracks, says Maninder Singh

India will hope to start afresh when they take on a determined West Indies in the third Test on Tuesday, with the visitors leading the series 1-0.

India’s bowling line-up was a disappointment on the last day of the second Test, managing just two wickets in 98.1 overs, and allowing the West Indies to play out a draw. Taking that into account, former India spinner Maninder Singh feels a third spinner (Ravindra Jadeja) could help India on such occasions.

In the closing stages of the last Test in Jamaica, the India seamers were robotic, with no yorkers, bouncers or slower ones. Spinners Amit Mishra and R Ashwin couldn’t end the Windies’ resistance.

Ashwin, who had scored a century and picked up seven wickets in the first Test and a fifer in the first innings of the second Test, had a dry spell on the last day. Mishra’s efforts, on the other hand, have been average through the tour as he has managed to pick up just six wickets in two matches.

Maninder, who was a part of the India team that toured the West Indies in 1983, said India should go in with three spinners.

“There will be turning pitches in the series. There should be three spinners, including Jadeja, and two seamers in the side. That should have made a difference in the last game,” he added.

He, however, wasn’t keen to drop Mishra and replace him with Jadeja. “(Virat) Kohli has a lot of confidence in Mishra. It’s true he didn’t bowl too well but Kohli should encourage him if he’s going to stick with him,” he said.

Jadeja, who had a good practice game, can be the option India lacked in the last game. After being dropped for the first practice game, he struck a 61-ball 56 and picked up three wickets for 16 runs in the second practice match. A left-hand orthodox bowler might just be the trump card Kohli needs in the bowling department.