New Zealand’s eight-wicket victory in Bengaluru set the tone for an impressive series win, with the visitors’ pacers exploiting the conditions to claim 17 of India’s 20 wickets. However, in Pune, India’s spin-focused approach on a slow turner backfired, as New Zealand’s spinners, led by Mitchell Santner, took control.
Mitchell Santner picked up a five-wicket haul in both innings, leading the Kiwis to an 18-wicket spin assault that clinched the series. This defeat marked India’s first home series loss in 12 years, a result that has raised concerns about the Indian team’s batting technique against quality spin.
Following India’s defeat, former India selector and spinner Sunil Joshi raised concerns about the team’s inadequate preparation for spin bowling. Joshi criticized top-order players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill, questioning why they haven’t turned to domestic cricket to sharpen their skills against spin bowlers. “We have forgotten how to plan for spin,” Joshi commented on Star Sports. “If our spinners can script victories at home, our batters should learn how to play spin. When will we see our top-order batters go back to play domestic cricket?”
He emphasized that domestic cricket offers valuable experience, with past players often returning to the Ranji Trophy to hone their skills. “Playing domestic cricket is not easy. It’s a challenge in itself,” he said, underscoring the importance of these matches for refining techniques against different bowling styles.
Amid the debate, a viral statistic on social media highlighted how few of India’s top players have participated in the Ranji Trophy recently. Kohli, for instance, last played in the tournament in 2012, while Rohit Sharma’s last appearance came in the 2015/16 season. The late Sachin Tendulkar’s final Ranji match was in 2013, the same year he retired from international cricket. The diminishing participation in domestic cricket among senior players has fueled discussions on whether a return to these matches could help address India’s batting issues against spin, especially as they prepare for more challenging Test series ahead.
Correct point raised, what do you say?
