India’s recent series defeat to New Zealand at home has brought a fresh concern for the team: the struggle against spin, once an area of strength. Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar has voiced a strong recommendation for Indian batters to revisit domestic cricket to regain their finesse against spin bowling.
New vulnerability against Spin
India’s once-vaunted reputation for playing spin has taken a significant hit. The country’s first-ever home series loss to New Zealand has drawn attention to a concerning vulnerability among the current Indian top-order against spin, particularly on home pitches. This weakness was starkly exposed during the second Test in Pune, where New Zealand’s left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner claimed an impressive 13-wicket haul, leading the Kiwis to a decisive 113-run victory within three days.
The Indian struggle against spin has parallels with an earlier incident at the same Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Seven years ago, Australia’s left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe made a memorable debut, taking 12 wickets to steer Australia to a 333-run victory. In that Test, India was bowled out for 105 and 107 across both innings, a rare occurrence on home soil.
Dilip Vengsarkar call for domestic cricket
In light of this setback, Dilip Vengsarkar has highlighted a potential reason for India’s increasing fragility against spinners: a reduced focus on domestic cricket. According to Vengsarkar, exposure to domestic cricket, where players regularly encounter quality spinners, is essential for mastering the skills necessary to counter spin.
“Unless you play domestic cricket, you’ll not master the skills of playing spinners,” Vengsarkar explained to TOI, adding that it’s not only about adapting to turning pitches but understanding the nuances of spin bowling itself. “Everyone should be available to play domestic cricket,” he emphasised, arguing that domestic experience could equip players with resilience against spin threats, whether at home or abroad.
Vengsarkar also voiced concerns over the scheduling of Under-19 and India A tours, which often overlap with domestic matches, thereby detracting from the significance of India’s premier domestic tournaments.
New Zealand historic achievement
Commending New Zealand’s historic series win, Vengsarkar noted the visiting team’s preparation and determination. “It’s a historic and well-deserved win for the Kiwis,” he said, recognising that the New Zealand team arrived with a clear plan and executed it to perfection.
By urging India’s batters to return to domestic cricket, Vengsarkar hopes they can rebuild their confidence and skill against spin, a foundational strength that once set them apart.
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