From Sri Lanka with love: Lakshan Sandakan praises India's chinaman Kuldeep Yadav

Mumbai: India's only chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav has an admirer in Sri Lanka. Lakshan Sandakan is Sri Lanka's first chinaman bowler, whose Test debut in July last year against Australia (Pallekele) was equally sensational. The bowler took four wickets in the first innings and three in the second, highest by any chinaman on debut.

"I saw him (Kuldeep Yadav) first in the IPL. He bowls really well. He has good control. More importantly he has the variations a wrist spinner requires.” Sandakan said.

Saddakan missed Kuldeep's Test debut against Australia as he was busy playing for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh.

"I couldn't watch the entire match. Initially, I didn't even know that he was included in the final eleven. But, I saw his bowling highlights afterwards.

"There are many young chinaman bowlers, but when they grow up, coaches transform them into an orthodox spinner. Also, you require very good guidance to produce chinaman and leg-spinners," Sandakan added.

"Chinaman bowlers need to be very dedicated as it is an unorthodox action. Besides that, it is difficult to direct the bowl to the correct spot, as we use wrist rather than the fingers. But, if they practice well, chinaman bowlers can do very well."

Sadnakan also had a sensational ODI and the T20I debuts. Mathew Wade was his maiden ODI victim in his very first over and he struck with his very first ball in T20Is by claiming the wicket of South Africa's Mangaliso Mosehle.

"I am extremely happy. I wanted to become the first chinaman bowler from Sri Lanka. I'm overjoyed that I could do it. There are a very few chinaman bowlers in the world. I'm happy to be one of them".

Both – Sandakan and Kuldeep – may get a chance to play against each other when Team India tours Sri Lanka in July, this year.

"I would be delighted to meet him. I would tell him that it's a pleasure to meet him and I would also wish him good luck," he signed off.