Former India leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has shared his advice on how spinners can deal with destructive power hitters in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The former India international recently took to social media to explain why slowing the ball down and generating more spin could be more effective than bowling quicker in T20 cricket.
Sivaramakrishnan believes spinners should focus on using the natural variations of their craft rather than trying to match the pace at which modern batters attack the ball. According to him, bowling faster can actually work in favour of power hitters, who already generate significant bat speed while looking to clear the boundaries.
The former right-arm leg-spinner addressed the familiar concern among spinners about bowling on flat IPL pitches when dangerous batters are well set. He pointed out that power hitters naturally have a rapid bat swing because they are attempting to generate maximum force. A quicker delivery, therefore, can provide them with the pace they need to execute their shots.
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Instead, Sivaramakrishnan suggested that spinners should slow the delivery through the air while imparting substantial spin. His reasoning is that a slower delivery can reach the batter later than expected, potentially disrupting the timing of a shot that has already been committed to.
“If bowlers are complaining about cement roads in IPL, when power hitters are batting, their bat swing is going to be fast to generate the power. Simple thing, bowl slower through the air and impart a lot spin, then the ball will arrive after the batter has finished his shot. Spinners bowl quick will get hammered cos of the fast bat swing,” L Sivaramakrishnan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
— Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (@LaxmanSivarama1) September 24, 2026
The advice comes from a former international spinner with considerable experience at the highest level. Sivaramakrishnan represented India between 1983 and 1987, playing nine Tests and 16 ODIs during his international career. As a specialist leg-spinner, he was involved in an era when wrist-spin remained an important part of India’s bowling attack.
Sivaramakrishnan later enjoyed an extensive career in commentary. He spent 23 years as a BCCI commentator before stepping away from the role in March 2026. During that period, he witnessed the rapid evolution of limited-overs cricket, including the increasing influence of T20 batting and the emergence of increasingly aggressive power hitters.
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His latest comments centre on a simple principle: spinners do not necessarily need to compete with batters for speed. Instead, they can use flight, spin and changes in pace to make the batter wait for the ball and disturb their rhythm.
In modern T20 cricket, where batting aggression and boundary-hitting have become central to the game, Sivaramakrishnan’s approach highlights the importance of timing rather than raw pace. For spinners operating on flat IPL surfaces, changing the pace through the air and maximising spin could offer another way to challenge batters looking to attack from the outset.
