Ashok Malhotra dissects India’s spin bowling crisis & T20 influence

India suffered a 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand in 2024, followed by a 2-0 loss to South Africa. These defeats exposed a critical vulnerability in the team’s ability to handle spin bowling in the longest format. The back-to-back series losses raised serious questions about India’s technical approach to facing quality spin on home soil.

Former batter Ashok Malhotra has identified the root cause of these spin-related struggles. According to Malhotra, the influence of T20 cricket has fundamentally altered how spinners approach their craft and how batters prepare to face them. He contrasted modern spin bowling with the techniques of earlier generations.

“It’s because of T20 cricket. In T20 cricket, nobody spins the ball; they just fire it in. In our time, there was Bishan Bedi, Rajinder Goel, Dilip Doshi, Padmakar Shivalkar and Dhiraj Parsana. Each team had a good bowler.” Malhotra was quoted as saying by The Cricket News.

Why T20 cricket has changed spin bowling

Malhotra’s critique extends directly to India’s current spin bowling options. He pointed out that even the team’s established spinners have adapted their approach in ways that undermine traditional Test cricket requirements. The former cricketer highlighted how this shift has created a mismatch between India’s bowling attack and the opposition’s tactical responses. He mentioned that star all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel don’t look to spin the ball.

“But if you look at the situation now, you have the same Jadeja and Axar Patel, who don’t spin the ball. So, when you don’t have the spinner, how can you play it effectively? That’s why New Zealand beat us with part-time spinners, and then South Africa followed suit.” Malhotra said.

How India’s current spinners differ from past generations

The observation points to a broader technical problem within Indian cricket. When specialist spinners do not rely on traditional spinning techniques, batters lose the opportunity to develop the specific skills needed to counter genuine spin. This creates a vulnerability that opposition teams have successfully exploited in recent Test series on Indian soil.

India will face a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka beginning August 15, 2026. The upcoming assignment will test whether the team can address its spin-related vulnerabilities and develop a more effective approach to both playing and bowling spin in Test cricket.

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