Former cricketer-turned-commentator Michael Atherton has suggested India to go with three spinners in the crucial fourth Test against England at Old Trafford.

After a narrow defeat at Lord’s, India are now 1-2 behind in the five-match Test series. They can’t afford to lose any more matches or the series will be gone.

With India considering rotation options for pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah due to workload concerns and seeking the best possible combination to level the series, Atherton threw his weight behind left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav to exploit the traditionally spin-friendly Old Trafford surface.

“In the middle, where the televised pitches are, I said just flat, flat, flat. You know wrist spin goes well at Old Trafford in those circumstances,” Atherton said on the Sky Sports podcast. “So I was wondering whether they could go like Bumrah and Siraj and then play their three spinners – Washington Sundar, Jadeja, and Kuldeep.”

Atherton, however, acknowledged that inclement weather in Manchester could pose a challenge when it comes to picking the playing XI.

“You don’t know about the forecast in Manchester, that’s the other thing. If it's going to be cooler and showery, and whether the fast bowlers then come into it – but I think that’s a definite option India should think about,” he added.

India had a chance to bring in Kuldeep in the third Test but decided against changing the team combination. Despite Bumrah’s seven wickets and KL Rahul’s gritty hundred, they lose the game by 22 runs.

Chasing 193, India’s innings folded for 170 as Ravindra Jadeja’s valiant 61* went in vain. India had previously levelled the series at Edgbaston with a thumping 336-run victory, but now face a must-win situation in Manchester from July 23.