Controversial opinion — while there is no match to the Indian side in the white-ball formats, the Test team might not be up there, simply because of their inability to tackle the spinners, in sub-continent conditions. Many might not agree with this statement, due to the rich history of batters doing great job against the slower bowlers, but then after the retirement of a few high-profile names, the decline is for everyone to see.
After a gap of 7-8 months, Shubman Gill‘s side will play their 1st Test against the Sri Lanka side, from August 15, and let us just say, it will be challenging for sure. The failed home series’ against New Zealand (2024), and South Africa (2025), just show, that how the current crop might not be the best equipped to handle spin.
Numbers against spin highly inflated
But to deep dive into the problem, it becomes essential to look at the overall numbers of the Indian batters against spin, which, contrary to our argument, might actually look quite good. Skipper Shubman Gill averages a brilliant 51.11 against spin in 50 innings, where he has scored 1,380 runs in 2,401 deliveries. He has been dismissed 27 times by spinners.
Opener KL Rahul has good numbers too against spin, where he even beats his career average of 36.42. The Bengaluru lad has played 60 innings vs spin and averages 43.12, having scored 1,423 runs from 2,437 deliveries. He has been dismissed 33 times to spin. Again, not bad, one must say.
Gemini AIYashasvi Jaiswal, perhaps the most consistent in this side, has the best average of 64.60 against spin in his 48 innings. He has scored 1,486 runs altogether, facing 1,735 deliveries, and has been dismissed 23 times. Another southpaw, Ravindra Jadeja seems to be tackling spin better than some of the players. In 107 vs spin, he has scored 2,158 runs in 3,632 deliveries, getting out 49 times.
Who can forget Rishabh Pant taking down Nathan Lyon in the 2021 series Down Under; he too has been largely good, statistically. He has played 65 innings against the spinners, scoring 1,725 runs in 1,975 deliveries, averaging 49.28, while getting out 35 times.
Then we have the rookies — Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel, who have recently started their respective Test careers. Sai Su has scored 201 runs in 433 deliveries, averages 40, and has gotten out 5 times in 8 innings. Whereas, Jurel has scored 299 runs in 558 balls, averages 37.37 in 15 innings, getting out 8 times.
The real picture of struggle
Indian batters, in the sub-continent conditions might have scored runs against West Indies, or other lowly opponents, but the same could not be repeated in the New Zealand and South Africa series’, where were white-washed. The collective reason for our batting failing was, spin.
In the five Tests combined, Jaiswal fell to spin six times — two times to Ajaz Patel, as many times to Kiwi Glenn Phillips, and once to Mitchell Santner. Not to forget one dismissal against Simon Harmer, in the 2nd IND vs SA Test. As a result, in the NZ series, Jaiswal scored 190 runs in 3 Tests at an average of 31, and in the SA series, it was 83 runs at an average of 20.75.
His opening partner KL Rahul was no good either. He wasn’t played in the NZ series, while in the SA series he was removed twice by Keshav Maharaj in the first Test, and once by Simon Harmer in the 2nd. In all he scored 68 runs in the two Tests, averaging 17.
Skipper Shubman Gill was dismissed four times by spinners in the New Zealand series, and was out of the South Africa one due to an injury in the 1st Test. Nonetheless, Santner and Ajaz picked him twice each. That meant, he could only score 144 runs in the 2 matches he played, at an average of 36. This also includes a score of 90.
Credits: AlamyNext up is Rishabh Pant. Against the Kiwis, though he finished as the highest run-getter in the series (261), he could not uplift his team. He was dismissed by Philipps, Ish Sodhi and Ajay on three separate occasions, averaging 43. But come the South Africa one, he was dismissed twice by Harmer. There he scored 49 in 2 matches, averaging 12.25.
Then Ravindra Jadeja. He was out a staggering 7 times to spinners in all these matches — twice to Ajaz, once to Santner, once to Phillips, twice to Harmer, and once to Keshav Maharaj. In three NZ matches, he mustered 105 runs at an average of 17.50, while in the other, he scored 105 in 2 at an average of 26.25.
Jurel and Sai are up last, who did not feature in matches vs New Zealand, but were no good against the Proteas. The keeper-batter fell thrice to Harmer – scoring 29 in 2 matches, while the southpaw fell once to Harmer and once to Senuran Muthusamy. He scored 29 in one match.
Potential threats in Sri Lanka
Conditions in August: India would be touring Sri Lanka after a gap of 9 years, and perhaps except KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, no other batter/player has the experience of playing in those conditions. It would be damp and moist due to rain, and batting could be challenge for sure. With these poor numbers in India, one can’t expect a dramatic improvement in their play against spin.
The spinners: The immediate threat will be Prabath Jayasuriya. The 34-year-old has 122 wickets in 23 matches, and could trouble the Indians; somewhat like Rangana Herath. There is also a certain right-arm spinner Ramesh Mendis, who has 71 wickets in 16 matches only. His record is as good as Harmer at the moment, if not better.
India Test batters’ struggle against spin could make Sri Lanka tour challenging Inside Sport India.
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