KL Rahul was straightforward in acknowledging that the current crop of Indian Test batters have struggled to play spin as well as their predecessors, saying he is unsure what has led to the decline. The senior batter said the players are willing to speak to former greats, including the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, and learn from them.
Speaking to the press on the eve of the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi, Rahul, who will lead the side in the absence of Shubman Gill, said it is important that players recognise their difficulties against spin and find ways to overcome them on an individual basis.
Rahul’s comments come days after India were whitewashed 0-2 by South Africa in a Test series. On a spin-friendly pitch in the first Test in Kolkata, South African spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj outbowled their Indian counterparts. India failed to chase 124 in the final innings, bundled out for 93 — their lowest fourth-innings total in a Test at home.
Harmer picked up 17 wickets in the series, troubling even India’s best, including Rahul. He finished with seven more wickets than India’s most successful spinner in the two-match series, Ravindra Jadeja.
“I can’t give a definitive answer. Yes, we have not been able to play spin that well for a series or two. We know it, we acknowledge it. It’s part of a batter’s job to recognise when we are not playing spin properly. You spoke about Gavaskar sir speaking on the issue — we can talk to him and understand what we need to do better against spin. We are already trying to find ways to improve. I don’t think it will happen overnight,” Rahul said in Ranchi.
