With Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav running riot in the ongoing series against Australia, former India spinner Narendra Hirwani has lauded India’s spin duo.
The 48-year-old, who took a staggering 16 wickets on his Test debut, said the Indian spinners have taken the Australian batsmen by surprise and cited it as the reason behind their downfall.
Both the spinners have taken five wickets each in the first two games of the series with Kuldeep also taking a hat-trick in the second game, as India are leading the five-match series 2-0.
“They are reading the batsmen well at the moment. The Aussies have practised for an inch or two inches of spin, but they are actually facing more than eight inches of turn. No wonder, they are finding it difficult. When you spin big, then deliveries with a lesser turn or the straighter ones give batsmen nightmares. These two have both variation and turn. Most importantly, they know when and how to use those variations,” Hirwani told The Times of India.
Hirwani further said the visitors are finding it difficult to pick Kuldeep due to lack of chinaman bowlers Down Under.
“I don’t think they have any chinaman bowler in Australia domestic cricket, so they are struggling against Kuldeep. Chahal too has matured as a bowler. He is not only keeping it tight but also picking up wickets in middle overs,” he said.
The ex-cricketer also praised India skipper Virat Kohli for backing the wrist spinners and showing the desire to take the risk for wins.
“A captain needs to have a large heart to play a wrist spinner. Virat (Kohli) has shown that he loves wrist spinners. Amit Mishra did well under him. Chahal has been playing under him in IPL for quite some time now, and now Kuldeep. Here, Virat is playing two wrist spinners, which clearly shows he is willing to take risks for victory,” said Hirwani.
The emergence of the likes of Kuldeep, Chahal, Axar in addition to other spinners in the domestic circuit has certainly boosted India’s spin department which already boasts of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, and Hirwani feels it is a good sign for India cricket.
“Everyone wants to play for the country. We have Ashwin, who is a proven customer. Jadeja has come of age in the last two years. Chahal and Kuldeep are doing well. Axar has done well whenever he is given the opportunity. There are other talented spinners in the domestic circuit. It’s a healthy sign for the Indian cricket,” he said.