Over the last three years, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel have been India\u2019s frontline spinners across at least two formats \u2013 Tests and ODIs. While multiple tweakers have rotated through the T20I setup, the longer formats haven\u2019t seen many new names emerge. Varun Chakaravarthy\u2019s mystery spin earned him a place in India\u2019s Champions Trophy 2025 squad, but his ODI stint lasted only four matches.<\/p>\n
Since India\u2019s triumph in February last year, Kuldeep has remained the only specialist spinner, while Ravindra and Axar have alternated as spin-bowling all-rounders. For India\u2019s next ODI assignment against Afghanistan, both left-arm spinners have been rested, opening the door for Harsh Dubey. In Tests, Dubey and Manav Suthar (maiden call-up) have been drafted into the squad.<\/p>\n
But while India continues to produce spin-bowling all-rounders in abundance, the selectors are yet to identify a reliable backup for Kuldeep, the lone left-arm wrist-spinner.<\/p>\n
More broadly, there is a shrinking pool of traditional, specialist spinners. According to former India spinner Rajesh Chauhan, the rise of T20 cricket has played a major role in that decline.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe problem is that today\u2019s generation doesn\u2019t learn cricket; it learns events \u2014 T20, One-Day or Test cricket. So, this generation is not learning bowling, but event-based bowling. If you keep focusing on the event, this problem will continue to arise,\u201d Chauhan said.<\/p>\n
Former India left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju echoed the concern. \u201cEarlier, a spinner used to bowl 20-30 overs in a day. Now, they bowl just four overs and get done. They are not bowling enough and aren\u2019t working on their basics,\u201d said Raju, who represented India in 28 Tests and 53 ODIs.<\/p>\n
The numbers from the Ranji Trophy underline the trend. Over the last two seasons, left-arm orthodox spinners have dominated the wickets tally among spinners: Harsh Dubey (83), Siddharth Desai (82), Mayank Mishra (75), Shams Mulani (74) and Jagadeesh Suchith (69).<\/p>\n
The list also highlights another issue \u2014 the absence of off-spinners and wrist-spinners.<\/p>\n
![\"Vidharbha\u2019s](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/97enqq\/article71007496.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/11908_21_2_2025_16_39_26_2_DSC_8180.JPG\" "\\"Vidharbha\u2019s")
<\/p>\n\n | Photo Credit:
\n Emmanual Yogini\n <\/p>\n
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Vidharbha\u2019s Harsh Dubey has been the leading spinner in the Ranji Trophy over the last two seasons.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n Emmanual Yogini\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Since 2021, Mulani has taken the most wickets among spinners in domestic red-ball cricket, with 200. More tellingly, among the top 10 spin-bowling wicket-takers in this period, nine are left-arm spinners, with Jalaj Saxena being the exception.<\/p>\n
According to Raju, the decline of off-spinners coincided with batters increasingly manufacturing shots such as the switch hit and reverse sweep. \u201cWhen I was with the Delhi Capitals last year, I was speaking to Faf du Plessis. He said that since the switch hit came into the game, off-spinners have started disappearing. There\u2019s very little margin for error now, and batters are hitting switch hits for sixes.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is merit to that argument. In the ongoing IPL 2026 season, only nine bowlers have bowled off-spin, and just three of them \u2013 Washington Sundar, Will Jacks, and Aiden Markram \u2013 have bowled more than 30 deliveries. Sundar, India\u2019s primary off-spin option in Tests, has bowled only 43 balls across 13 matches.<\/p>\n
As for wrist-spinners, Raju believes modern T20 demands are forcing them away from their strengths. \u201cIf you look at wrist-spinners like Kuldeep, even he is getting hit more often now. Leg-spinners are more successful when they bowl slower. The quicker you bowl on a length nowadays, the more likely you are to get hit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Chauhan sees the issue as one of demand and supply. According to him, T20 cricket offers instant money and success, leaving little incentive for young bowlers to master the art of spin.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey get Rs. 1 for playing a Test match and Rs. 10 for playing a T20\/IPL match. Naturally, they think about earning Rs. 10. But when you go after that Rs. 10, you start making changes in your body alignment and overall bowling quality, and then you don\u2019t know how to switch back,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The former India off-spinner believes modern bowlers are also struggling to switch between formats effectively. \u201cYou need to make a switch in your hands and wrists according to the format you are playing. You need proper body alignment,\u201d Chauhan explained.<\/p>\n
Raju, meanwhile, pointed to another growing problem \u2013 youngsters trying variations before learning the basics. \u201cYoungsters today watch a lot of T20 cricket and see spinners bowling variations. Then they immediately want to try those variations without first building their basics. They are no longer trying to loop or turn on the ball,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Both Raju and Chauhan agree that spinners today simply are not bowling enough. As a result, they are unable to sharpen their skills, develop rhythm or fully understand their craft \u2013 a trend both fear could eventually lead to the disappearance of specialist spin bowling altogether.<\/p>\n
\n \u201cWhen I was with the Delhi Capitals last year, I was speaking to Faf du Plessis. He said that since the switch hit came into the game, off-spinners have started disappearing. There\u2019s very little margin for error now, and batters are hitting switch hits for sixes.\u201dVenkatapathy Raju<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a very important subject and needs much deeper thought,\u201d Chauhan said.<\/p>\n According to him, the solution lies in more detailed coaching programmes. \u201cThere is so much detailing in spin bowling, from the usage of the crease to setting the fields; lessons on bowling over the wicket and around the wicket; and all these small technical aspects. But no one is teaching them.\u201d<\/p>\n Chauhan suggested that alongside the Centre of Excellence (CoE) coaches, the BCCI should regularly bring in former spinners to conduct specialised week-long camps for young bowlers.<\/p>\n Raju believes the answer lies in State associations pushing players to participate in more multi-day cricket. \u201cSelectors and State associations need to make sure players participate in a minimum number of multi-day matches, even if not an entire season. Spin bowling should not become a bygone skill.\u201d<\/p>\n He acknowledged that T20 cricket has now become the default format, especially with the sport entering the Olympics, but stressed that Under-19 and Under-23 players must still be encouraged to prioritise multi-day cricket and ODIs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more they bowl, the better they will become,\u201d Raju said. \u201cThe importance of playing multi-day cricket has to be instilled from a young age.\u201d<\/p>\n Published on May 21, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n