Cricket

India's batting woes against spin have been laid bare in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. The hosts suffered humiliating defeats in all three matches, with their batsmen failing to cope with the turning tracks.In the first Test in Bengaluru, India's decision to bat first in overcast conditions backfired, leading to a disastrous 46 all out in the first innings. However, the batting failures in Pune and Mumbai were even more alarming, as the hosts surrendered meekly against spin.Ajaz Patel's six-wicket spell in Mumbai scripted a 25-run victory for New Zealand, despite India needing just 147 to win. Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes this defeat is an admission that Indian batsmen can no longer play spin effectively."On flat tracks, we can play spin, but everybody can on a flat track. The only difference is that we play spin better than other teams on flat tracks and bowl better as well because our spinners have quality," Chopra said. "But if the track offers spin ever so slightly, then whether it is the Pune or the Wankhede in Mumbai (we fall short)."Many Indian batters resorted to playing the sweep and reverse-sweep to counter spin, but Chopra believes this is a risky strategy that requires extensive practice. "Neither we have confidence in spin, nor we have control on our shots. We are trying to find a shot when it's not there, trying sweeps, practicing it before the start of play every morning. But it's like learning a new language, my friend. If you don't know a language, it takes a lot of time to learn it," he said.Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India's batting stalwarts, failed to deliver in all three Tests, extending their poor run of form in the home season. Kohli scored just 93 runs in three innings, while Rohit aggregated 91. Rishabh Pant was the top-scorer of the series with 261 runs, but his efforts were not enough to prevent India's humiliating defeat.Chopra believes the lack of domestic cricket is a major factor behind India's batting woes against spin. "When we focus more on white-ball cricket, then that habit of playing on turning pitches vanishes. We don't even remember when our main players last appeared in a first-class domestic match. So where are you going to practice?" he said.Rohit last played a domestic first-class match in 2016, while Kohli's last domestic appearance came in 2012. "You play international cricket, which is okay; but international cricket is played on good tracks 9 out of 10 times. When it happens on bad tracks, then you get caught. It's happening again and again," Chopra analyzed.India's next assignment is a limited-overs tour of South Africa, followed by a five-Test series against Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Having conceded the top spot on the World Test Championship (WTC) table to Australia, India's chances of qualifying for the WTC final are now in jeopardy.

Shubman Gill's resurgence in Test cricket has been a testament to his resilience and adaptability. After a challenging start to the year, where his place in the team was under scrutiny, Gill has rediscovered his form with a string of impressive performances.In the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, Gill has been a key figure in India's batting lineup. His 90-run knock in the first innings of the second Test in Mumbai was a masterclass in patience and determination. Facing a formidable New Zealand spin attack, Gill played with a calm and composed approach, rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries.Gill's innings was particularly crucial as it helped India recover from a precarious position. After losing early wickets, Gill and Rishabh Pant forged a 96-run partnership that gave India a slender first-innings lead. Gill's ability to anchor the innings and provide stability was a key factor in India's eventual victory.Speaking after his innings, Gill revealed that he had drawn inspiration from his successful Test series against England earlier this year. "I was trying to just go out there and have another opportunity to bat for the maximum (time) I could and not put pressure on myself by thinking about how many runs I must score," he said.Gill's return to form is a welcome boost for India, who are looking to consolidate their position at the top of the ICC Test rankings. His ability to play spin effectively and his growing maturity as a batsman make him a valuable asset to the team.As India prepares for the third and final Test of the series, Gill will be hoping to continue his impressive run of form and help his team secure a series victory.

Despite New Zealand's slim lead of 143 runs with only one wicket remaining in their second innings, spinner Ajaz Patel believes India will face a challenging chase on a deteriorating Wankhede pitch.Patel, who claimed five wickets in India's first innings, highlighted the unpredictable nature of the pitch as a key factor in the match's outcome. He noted that the pitch has historically exhibited less turn and bounce in the morning sessions compared to the afternoons, making it crucial to understand how it will play in the crucial morning session."It's turning quite sharply, it's inconsistent in terms of how much it does turn and bounce, but as a spinner it's encouraging as well that you're going to get something out of the surface and for batting it's quite challenging," Patel said. "It is certainly turning from both ends, it's just the bounce is a little bit variable, so from a batting perspective that can be a challenge as well."Patel acknowledged Rishabh Pant's counter-attacking 60 as a pivotal moment in the match. "I felt like I bowled really well but Rishabh batted exceptionally, he's been phenomenal throughout this tour and he's kind of the player that's put pressure back on us, regardless of the situation," He said. "As long as you're putting the ball in good areas and you have a good plan and a good set field, then it's about him taking the option and he is being very, very good and taking the right options."Despite his own success and the commendable performance of New Zealand's spin attack, Patel refrained from claiming superiority over their Indian counterparts. "I don't necessarily believe we've out-bowled the Indian spinners, the class of the Indian bowling attack is quite phenomenal," the spinner said. "For us as a spin bowling group, we've grown a lot and we can continue to show that everyone is quite capable, there's a lot of communication between us and we make sure that we're all aware of what the plan is at a certain given time."As the match enters its final stages, the focus will be on how the pitch plays and how both teams adapt to the challenging conditions. India will need to navigate the deteriorating surface and chase down the target without losing too many wickets, while New Zealand will aim to exploit the pitch's inconsistencies and defend their lead.

India's spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar wreaked havoc on New Zealand's batting lineup on the second day of the third and final Test in Mumbai, triggering a collapse that handed India a significant advantage.The Kiwis lost eight wickets in the final session, crumbling to 171 for 9 in their second innings, with a lead of just 143 runs at the close of play. The Indian spinners spun a web around the Kiwi batters, exploiting the sharp turn and variable bounce of the Wankhede pitch.After India posted 263 all out in their first innings, securing a slim 28-run lead, the spinners took control. Ashwin (3/63) found his rhythm, while Jadeja (4/52) continued his impressive form, keeping India's hopes alive of avoiding a clean sweep.Will Young's gritty 51 was the only significant resistance from the Kiwis, who succumbed to pressure after Ajaz Patel (5/103) claimed another five-wicket haul. Ashwin showed visible delight when he stumped Rachin Ravindra (4), beating the batter with bounce and turn. He also bowled out Glenn Phillips (26) and Young (51) to secure crucial breakthroughs.Jadeja also made a notable contribution, ending a resilient 50-run stand between Young and Daryl Mitchell (21). Mitchell's aggressive shot against Jadeja failed to get the desired distance, and Ashwin covered 19 meters to complete a brilliant catch.Tom Blundell (4) chopped a delivery onto his stumps off Jadeja, while Ashwin bowled Phillips, who had shifted to aggressive batting mode. At the start of New Zealand's reply, Akash provided the rare sight of a pacer disturbing the stumps on a turning track, dismantling Tom Latham's (1) off and middle stumps in the first over.Earlier, India suffered a setback with Pant's dismissal towards the end of the morning session. From Pant's dismissal in the 38th over to India folding in the 60th, the team managed just eight boundaries and two sixes. Pant alone hit as many during his brisk half-century.Ajaz, finding his length, continued his success at the Wankhede Stadium, following up his world record 10/119 in the first innings of the 2021 Test here with another five-wicket haul. In the second session, Gill narrowly missed out on his century while other batsmen continued to disappoint.Sarfaraz Khan's struggle was particularly disheartening as he failed to open his account on his home turf. Gill's flawless 146-ball 90, including seven fours and a six, ended when Patel had him caught at slip. Jadeja (14) too was caught at slip, though off Glenn Phillips, while Washington fought a lone battle among the three all-rounders, scoring a brisk 38 not out off 36 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes.

Ravindra Jadeja's mesmerizing spell of left-arm spin wreaked havoc on New Zealand's batting lineup in the first innings of the third Test against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.With India already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, New Zealand opted to bat first after winning the toss. They made a promising start, reaching 159 for 4 with Will Young and Daryl Mitchell forging a solid partnership of 87 runs.However, the introduction of Jadeja proved to be a game-changer. The veteran spinner extracted sharp turn and bounce from the pitch, making life difficult for the Kiwi batsmen. In the 45th over, he struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Young for 71 and Tom Blundell for a three-ball duck.Jadeja's relentless attack continued, as he claimed the next three wickets to fall. He rattled the stumps behind Glenn Phillips for 17, trapped Ish Sodhi in front for 7, and cleaned up Matt Henry for 0 in his second double-wicket over of the day. This brought up his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.New Zealand's innings crumbled rapidly after Jadeja's onslaught. Off-spinner Washington Sundar joined the party, dismissing top-scorer Mitchell for 82 and Ajaz Patel for 7 to finish with impressive figures of 4 for 81.The Kiwis were eventually bowled out for 235 in 65.4 overs, with Jadeja finishing with a match-winning haul of 5 for 47. His exceptional performance put India in a commanding position in the match and brought them closer to a series sweep.

England's recent 2-1 Test series defeat to Pakistan has exposed a glaring weakness in their batting lineup against spin bowling. Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has labeled the team "flat track bullies," criticizing their inability to adjust to challenging conditions.After winning the first Test in Multan, England lost the second and third Tests, with all 40 of their wickets falling to spinners. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali combined for a staggering 39 wickets, highlighting the English batters' vulnerability against spin.Boycott has sharply criticized the England batting, particularly their aggressive "Bazball" approach implemented by coach Brendon McCullum. He argues that this approach is ill-suited for spinning pitches, which demand a more nuanced and adaptable batting style."England are flat-track bullies on good batting pitches... spinning pitches demand adjustments," Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph UK.He pointed to the example of Harry Brook, who scored a triple century in the first Test but struggled against spin in subsequent innings. "A perfect example is Brook. He scored a brilliant 317 in the first Test and in the next four innings he was naive with no idea against spin and totalled 56 runs," Boycott wrote.After piling up 823 runs in the first Test, England failed to cross 300 again in any innings of the second and third Tests. In the second innings of both the final two Tests, England collapsed for a total of under 150 (144 and 112).Boycott expressed concern that these results will be forgotten as England will not tour the subcontinent again on spinning pitches for nearly three years. "The saddest thing is that England do not play in India or Pakistan again on spinning pitches for nearly three years, so our players will quickly be back to being praised by some supporters as the best batsmen England have ever had. All I say to that is you must be kidding," Boycott wrote.England's series defeat has left them 6th in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle table, significantly reducing their chances of making the WTC final.

Team India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand has sparked a wave of criticism, with former South Africa captain AB de Villiers weighing in on the matter. De Villiers believes that the perception of Indian players as exceptional spin players is outdated and that other teams have caught up.In the second Test, New Zealand's left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner exploited the Indian batters' weaknesses on a turning Pune track, taking 13 wickets in the match and handing India a 113-run defeat. This marked India's first Test series loss at home since 2012.De Villiers suggests that the belief in Indian players' spin prowess is a perception rather than a fact. He emphasizes that even the best batters can struggle against quality spin bowling on turning wickets. However, he also acknowledges the talent of Indian players, stating that they are "incredible players" who can play spin.De Villiers believes that India took a significant risk by preparing a turning track, which played into New Zealand's hands. He notes that New Zealand's bowlers, including part-timer Glenn Phillips, were able to exploit the conditions effectively."They lost the toss in the second Test. I think they took a big risk by really making sure that the wicket turns a lot from start to finish," said de Villiers. "With that, when you play against a street-smart team, guys like Glenn Phillips, no one thought of him as a spinner, but fiery spin right at the wickets quick, doesn't matter if you are a part-time spinner, you are in the match."De Villiers concludes that India's loss highlights the need for teams to adapt to different conditions and that the perception of Indian players as invincible spin players is no longer valid.

India's batting woes continued in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune, leading to a humiliating 113-run defeat and their first home series loss in 12 years. Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his disappointment, highlighting the team's inability to handle spin.Manjrekar pointed out that Shubman Gill, despite his talent, lacks the "feel for spinners" and struggles on turning pitches. He also criticized Virat Kohli for misreading the length of Mitchell Santner's delivery and Rohit Sharma for lacking confidence against spin."The top three of India's top four are short of confidence against spin," Manjrekar said. "On pitches like these, it is difficult to bat vs spin in the first session and a half. India should have backed their defense more and not lost early wickets."New Zealand's spin attack, led by Santner, proved too strong for India. Santner took 13 wickets in the match, including 7/53 in India's second innings. Glenn Phillips also contributed with 2/26.India's batting woes were evident in both innings. In the first innings, they were bowled out for 156, with only Ravindra Jadeja (38) offering some resistance. In the second innings, they were bundled out for 245, despite a promising start from Yashasvi Jaiswal (77).The defeat marks a significant setback for India, who had won the first Test in Kanpur. It also raises questions about the team's ability to handle spin, a crucial factor in Indian conditions.

Pakistan's remarkable turnaround against England in the recently concluded Test series has been attributed to their ability to neutralize England's aggressive 'Bazball' approach. Former England cricketer Nasser Hussain praised Pakistan's tactical adjustments, particularly their reliance on high-quality spinners.After losing six consecutive Tests, Pakistan made significant changes to their team, dropping underperforming players and introducing spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan. These changes proved pivotal as the spinners dominated England's batters, exposing their vulnerability against spin bowling.Hussain highlighted the contrast between Pakistan's spin prowess and England's struggles in this area. "They have spinners of the highest quality and they have players that play spin really well," he said. "It is exposed to England when the ball does spin. When it spins and it is gripping, England does not play spin or bowl spin as good as Pakistan."Hussain also questioned England's ability to adapt to different pitch conditions. "There should be a discrepancy because the pitches have been so different from the first Test to the second and third," he said. "But, the discrepancy in the England side is a concern."In the third Test at Rawalpindi, Pakistan's spinners once again played a crucial role. Sajid and Noman combined for 10 wickets, while Saud Shakeel's century helped Pakistan secure a 77-run lead. England's second innings collapse, where they were bowled out for 112, sealed Pakistan's 2-1 series victory.Shakeel was named 'Player of the Match' for his match-winning century. Hussain's comments underscore the importance of spin bowling in subcontinent conditions and the need for England to improve their ability to play and bowl spin effectively.