The Indian ignorance towards nurturing quality spinners

The Indian ignorance towards nurturing quality spinners: India has struggled overseas due to a lack of a quality Spinners after the veteran Anil Kumble walked off, we have hardly seen someone of his skill, talent levels or class. The recent announcement of the test team against Sri Lanka has once again raised some eyebrows. The inclusion of Amit Mishra and Harbhajan Singh as the spinning options in the team along with R Ashwin against the Sri Lankans, who have shown weakness in the past series against the spin bowling shows how India is running out of spinning options.

The inclusion of the 32-year-old in the 15 member squad shows the management is looking back and not ahead for the choices. Amit Mishra replaced injured Karn Sharma from the team who was a part of the team that travelled to Bangladesh last month. Mishra last played a test for India back in 2011 tour of England.

Harbhajan who has been retained in the team after his comeback in the test cricket also symbolizes that there is no new spinner in sight or good enough to wear the whites. Former Indian pacer, Ajit Agarkar has shown concern as he was quoted by ESPNcricinfo saying, “Yes, calling back Amit Mishra has surprised me. Like Harbhajan Singh, they have gone back to another spinner who has been around for a long time. The worrying aspect of it is that there is no new spinner on the horizon – which is very worrying,”

“Mishra has been around for long time, served in domestic cricket, fell out of favour in Test cricket because he was little bit slow in the air and on the pitch. Karn Sharma is injured. That prompted them to get an experienced guy. And to not have a new spinner with thousands of cricketers playing in India is more worriesome aspect than picking Amit Mishra,” he said.

The ignorant aspect of the whole scenario is the lack of opportunities to the young spinning talents that have performed in the Ranji as well as in the Indian T20 league. Upcoming talents like Yuzvendra Chahal, Jagadeesha Suchith, Iqbal Abdulla and KC Cariappa, Kuldeep Yadav have been deprived of a chance even after their commendable performances in days and T20 cricket.

The BCCI should maintain a broader scope towards this increasing issue as the Indian team will be at the receiving end in the long-term if these youngsters are not given a chance and exposure of the highest level. The time for Amit Mishra and Harbhajan Singh in the team is limited therefore, the requirement for the new spinning duo should be heard and acknowledged while it is still a mild cry. They surely would not want to face the talent vacuum situations anytime soon.