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Following India‘s disappointing performance against New Zealand’s spin attack on Day 2 of the second Test in Pune, former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull voiced his criticism of India’s current approach to spin bowling.
India’s struggle against Mitchell Santner’s spin masterclass
India, led by Rohit Sharma, struggled with the bat and were bowled out for 156 in response to New Zealand’s 259. The standout for New Zealand was Mitchell Santner, who dismantled India with his career-best figures of 7/53 from 19.3 overs. Santner was instrumental in exposing India’s batting vulnerability to spin. His left-arm orthodox bowling claimed seven wickets, marking his first five-wicket haul in Tests. Santner’s performance was crucial in giving New Zealand a 103-run first-innings lead. Of the ten Indian wickets to fall, nine went to spin, with the only non-spin dismissal coming from Tim Southee’s pace.
Simon Doull criticizes India’s approach to spin after Day 2 Collapse
Doull, now a commentator, argued that the perception of Indian batters as superior players of spin is outdated. His comments come at a time when India’s ability to play spin has faced scrutiny, especially after their recent struggles on turning tracks. “I think it is a misconception around the world now that these modern Indian players are better at playing spin than anyone else. They are not. They are the same as everyone else around the world,” Doull remarked during the broadcast on Sports18.
Also READ: IND vs NZ: 3 key reasons behind India’s downfall against spinners in first innings of Pune Test
Criticism of modern Indian batters’ spin vulnerability
Doull reflected on India’s inability to tackle spin effectively, drawing comparisons with the past generation of Indian players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, who excelled against spin. According to Doull, today’s batters lack the same level of skill and adaptability. “Gone are the days of Ganguly, Gambhir, Laxman, and Dravid. Sachin was so, so good against spin,” he said, pointing out that high-quality spinners now pose as much of a threat to Indian batters as they do to foreign players.
Doull also referenced the Indian Premier League (IPL), suggesting that even in domestic leagues, Indian batters have struggled on turning tracks. “We saw that in the IPL; as soon as the ball started to spin, they were in trouble and started complaining,” Doull observed, emphasizing that modern Indian players are no longer exceptional at playing spin.
India’s uphill task to save the series
Trailing 0-1 in the three-match series, India are in a must-win situation to keep their hopes alive and protect their 12-year unbeaten home series record. Since 2012, India has won 18 consecutive Test series at home, and maintaining that record will require a strong response from the team. However, with New Zealand in control, India’s batters face an uphill challenge to counter New Zealand’s spinners and shift momentum in their favor.
