"It used to be our stronger suit" - Aakash Chopra calls out Rohit Sharma's Team India for failing against spin bowling

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has given a huge statement after India's below-par performance against Sri Lankan spinners Jeffrey Vandesay and Charith Asalanka in the 2nd ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Chopra claimed that India is not the strongest team against spin bowling anymore.

In the second ODI, India's batting failed miserably as nine wickets out of ten went to the Sri Lankan spinners. The remaining one was the run-out, which was also the last wicket of the match.

Out of the 9 wickets, six were picked up by the legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who was playing his first ODI in over seven months and had come in as a replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga for this series. Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka, known for his part-time off-spin, also chipped in with three wickets, which also included the crucial wicket of Axar Patel who looked like taking India home at one point.

Also read: "Easy to take credit after this spell" - Jeffrey Vandersay

Aakash Chopra gives a huge statement on Indian batters' ability against spin

Aakash Chopra took to social media and gave a huge statement on Indian batters' ability against spin on spin-friendly tracks. The former India cricketer claimed that India are constantly failing in the spin test. He also added that spin is not India's strength anymore.

"Playing spin on a turning pitch. We are falling short in this examination quite often. It used to be our stronger suit but not anymore," Chopra posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Playing spin on a turning pitch.

We are falling short in this examination quite often. It used to be our stronger suit but not anymore. #<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->v<!---->S<!---->L

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Indian batters' constant struggles against spin

Indian batters are traditionally known to play spin well and have been comfortable against turning balls. But the current generation of India's batting line-up has gone through many collapses against the spinners.

Not only the ODIs, Indian batters have found it hard to deal with quality spinners on various occasions in all the formats. Most recently, in the Test series against England played earlier this year, India succumbed to England's inexperienced spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir. Although India won the series comfortably, but their problems against spin were clearly visible.

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has also proved to be a tough nut to crack in several Test matches. He picked up 22 wickets in 4 Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series played in 2023. In the 2016 T20 World Cup, New Zealand's spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner shocked India by picking up 7-29 in 8 overs on a rank-turner at Nagpur.

In both the ODIs played against Sri Lanka so far, Indian batters have found it extremely hard to deal with the Sri Lankan spinners. They were in a good position in the first ODI before Sri Lanka's spinners arrived and changed the match. The match ended in a thrilling tie.

The story continued in the second ODI as well. From being in a dominant position, India slipped as the middle order had no answers to Jeffrey Vandersay's exceptional bowling performance. India will be under tremendous pressure going into the third ODI of the series as they look to level the series.