Modern Indian batters seem more at ease facing elite pace than quality spin, a trend once again highlighted during the Kolkata Test against South Africa. In what was intended to be a tactical advantage, Gautam Gambhir and the team management requested a turning surface at Eden Gardens. This strategy spectacularly backfired as Indian batters buckled under spin pressure. The loss not only exposed technical shortcomings but also sparked a broader conversation about the changing dynamics of Indian batting.
Ravichandran Ashwin, never one to shy away from a forthright assessment, raised a thought-provoking point: have Western batters surpassed Indians in playing spin? Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, “We’re not the best against spin anymore. Many Western players now practice far more against spin, especially when preparing for India, while we haven’t prioritized that skillset as much. Ironically, we’ve become superior against pace in foreign conditions.”
Supporting Ashwin’s observation, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar expressed concern over India’s diminishing prowess against spin—particularly on home soil. The former captain, a vocal advocate of domestic cricket, highlighted a critical gap: most current Indian players skip the Ranji Trophy, where conditions often present spin-friendly challenges.
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“A lot of our players do not play domestic cricket. In the Ranji Trophy, teams aim to win and prepare the turning pitches. But if you’re not playing those games, how do you expect to excel on them? None of our current players are taking part, and that’s troublesome,” said Gavaskar, speaking on Sports Tak.
Gavaskar, a long-time critic of workload management, believes that the excuse has diluted the readiness and skill development of Indian players. He argues that representing India demands versatility and constant match practice, which is impossible without regular participation in domestic competitions.
“They only want to play Ranji when they’re out of form. Otherwise, workload management is cited. This mindset must change. If we’re preparing pitches to help with grip and turn, we should select players who regularly face these conditions. That’s why domestic cricket matters,” he added.
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The glaring defeat in Kolkata has re-ignited the debate: is India’s spin reputation now a myth? With four defeats in their last six home Tests, and an uncharacteristic struggle against spin, both Ashwin and Gavaskar have underscored an inconvenient truth. Unless India recalibrates its priorities, especially in domestic cricket, the spin advantage they once held may soon vanish.
