Finger Spinners Need to Reinvent to Stay Alive in ODI Cricket - Harbhajan Singh

It was after the Windies ODIs in 2017 when MSK Prasad-led selection committee dropped Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja from India’s One-Day squad; saying the pair is on rest for the Sri Lanka series. The duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav replaced them, and the rest is history. Not only Ashwin and Jadeja didn’t play ODI cricket for 15 months; they now remain out of contention for the 2019 World Cup as well. Meanwhile, India spin veteran, Harbhajan Singh has shed some light on the same. He said if the finger spinners don’t reinvent themselves, they will struggle for their place in 50-over cricket.

Jadeja still in line for a World Cup spot – Harbhajan

Since Ravi Ashwin has remained entirely out of the One-Day scheme of things, his partner-in-crime, Ravindra Jadeja holds a chance of making it to the World Cup. Harbhajan Singh, who had played three mega events said because the situations could benefit the Saurashtra all-rounder and that he is a fantastic fielder; Jadeja should be on the plane to England.

Though Ravindra Jadeja didn’t get to play in the New Zealand ODIs, his contributions across formats cannot be overlooked.

“If you remember, during the 2017 Champions Trophy, the weather in UK was hot and humid. So, if conditions are same, Jadeja could still be used as a package, if the opposition team has five to six right-handers in their line-up. Play him as No.6 with Hardik Pandya as No.7. Also, he is still your best fielder,” Harbhajan said during an exclusive interview.

Off-spinners are predictable – Harbhajan

Harbhajan Singh, who had played two of three World Cup finals said the wrist spinners have more elements in their bowling arsenal than the off-spinners.

Giving the example of Nathan Lyon, who is perhaps the most improved off-spinner in Tests in recent times; Harbhajan said even he struggled to do well in ODI cricket.

“It’s simple, wrist spinners have three basic variations. Leg-break, googly (wrong-un) and the flipper. If you add top spinner, which is rarely used in ODIs, it becomes four,” Harbhajan said.

“Now come to an off-spinner. If you don’t have an effective doosra, the off-breaks become predictable and good batsmen will line you up for slogging. Even Nathan Lyon was struggling in the ODIs and he is a classical off-break bowler.”

Not many batsmen can read spinners, especially wrist-spinners

Across the world, there are not many batsmen who can read the spinners well, mainly the wrist spinners. Harbhajan Singh opines the art of reading the spinners out of hand is on the decline.

Also, with so many overseas players failing to play spin well; Bhaji said because they read the spinners off the pitch, which is dangerous, they fail more often.

“The art of reading the spinners out of the hand is on the decline. Most of the overseas batsmen, if you see, are trying to read wrist spinners after pitching and that’s dangerous,” he lamented.

“However, Kuldeep and Chahal have been very consistent. Just check their pitch map through the 40-odd games and the length has been very accurate. But unlike Indian batsmen, who are masters at reading the hands, it is not the case with most of the overseas batsmen,” Harbhajan explained.

Meanwhile, India will face New Zealand in the three T20Is, which begins on Wednesday (February 6th).