Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Laxman Sivaramakrishnan Questions NCA After India’s Spin Struggles Draw
India played Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo.
India had Sri Lanka in serious trouble after bowling them out for 290.
India then made Sri Lanka bat again because of the follow-on.
However, Sri Lanka fought back and finished with 429 runs for nine wickets.
Sonal Dinusha scored 133 runs without being dismissed.
India could not get the last four wickets, so the match ended in a draw.
India still won the two-match series 1-0.
Former spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan questioned whether the National Cricket Academy is helping India develop strong spinners.
India drew the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo after failing to take the final four wickets.
Sri Lanka finished on 429/9 after India enforced the follow-on, while India won the series 1-0.
Sonal Dinusha remained unbeaten on 133, with Keshara Nuwantha contributing 46 during Sri Lanka’s resistance.
Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets each, while Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj claimed one apiece.
Laxman Sivaramakrishnan questioned the National Cricket Academy’s ability to develop quality spinners and highlighted India’s no-ball problems.
- Who
- India, Sri Lanka, former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, and the National Cricket Academy.
- What
- India drew the second Test after failing to dismiss Sri Lanka, while Sivaramakrishnan criticized India’s spin-bowling development.
- When
- The final day of the second Test; the article does not provide a date.
- Where
- Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- India’s bowlers struggled on a pitch offering little assistance and could not take Sri Lanka’s final four wickets.
Sivaramakrishnan’s Criticism
Coaching Staff’s Response
Quality of India’s spinners
Sivaramakrishnan’s Criticism
Laxman Sivaramakrishnan questioned why the National Cricket Academy has not produced quality spinners and asked whether its former director and spin-bowling coach had done their jobs.
Coaching Staff’s Response
Sairaj Bahutule acknowledged a bowling concern and said work was being done to correct the no-ball problem, though the article does not report a direct response to Sivaramakrishnan’s broader criticism.
India’s bowling performance
Sivaramakrishnan’s Criticism
Sivaramakrishnan’s comments followed India’s failure to finish off Sri Lanka after the hosts were put under major pressure.
Coaching Staff’s Response
India’s bowlers were made to work through long spells on a pitch that offered little help, and Sri Lanka’s lower-order resistance ultimately secured the draw.
- Match result
- The second Test ended in a draw.
- Series result
- India won the two-Test series 1-0.
- Sri Lanka’s final score
- 429/9 after being asked to follow on.
- Leading resistance
- Sonal Dinusha remained unbeaten on 133; Keshara Nuwantha scored 46.
- India’s leading wicket-takers
- Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets each.
- No-ball issue
- Saransh Jain bowled four no-balls, Ravindra Jadeja bowled one, and India’s spinners bowled 10 no-balls in the Test, according to the article.
- Coach’s response
- Spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said the no-ball issue was a concern and that work was underway to correct it.