Five Spinners Who Should Get A Chance To Play For India Outside Of Asia

Indian spinners seem to be in their groove when playing at home conditions. However, they tend to struggle while playing away from home, especially in Test matches. In the past, the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been handed ample opportunities, to play for Team India. Significantly, the pair of them have been extremely effective at home, yet somewhat indifferent on the road. 

Playing in matches outside of Asia, Jadeja has 14 Test caps, while he has amassed 43 wickets in the same. Whereas in the 33 home games he’s played, the all-rounder has picked up 157 wickets. 

Ashwin too has played 21 Tests outside of Asia, wherein he has a tally of 68 wickets to his name.

Moreover, in the 43 matches at home, the veteran has scalped 254. 

India’s recent struggles in Tests, against New Zealand, also told a similar story.

So, perhaps its time to experiment and bring in new spin options up to the national team. 

Here are five spinners who should get a chance to play for India outside of Asia as well:

5) Shreyas Gopal

Hailing from Karnataka, Shreyas Gopal makes the cut for being one of the spinners who can be impressive outside of Asia, on the back of his impressive track record.

Gopal has played a lot of domestic cricket lately and has impressed one and all with his all-round displays both with the bat and ball.

In his career, Shreyas has played 64 First-class matches wherein he has 194 wickets to his name. Furthermore, the 26-year-old player has scored 2674 runs in as many matches, with an average of 34.28, including four centuries and 11 fifties.

He can be a wild card pick for India’s next Test assignments outside of Asia, however, the selectors must first give him a chance to play for India ‘A’, and prove his mettle there, before making the jump to the national team.

4) Mayank Markande

The new ‘kid’ on the block, Mayank Markande is slowly finding his feet in India’s domestic circuit. He came into the limelight after making his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut for Mumbai Indians (MI).

Due to the presence of senior spinners, the youngster hasn’t had opportunities to represent India ‘A’ outside of Asia.

But, there is a lot of potential in Markande. Aged just 22, the sky is the limit for him. In the 17 First-class matches he’s played in, the leggie has scalped 59 matches.

There was a time when Anil Kumble was India’s prime option as a leg spinner. The legendary veteran remains India’s top wicket-taker in Test cricket, however, since then, there hasn’t been any player who can fill in the shoes of Kumble.

Markande could be that player for Team India if he’s given ample opportunities.

3) Shahbaz Nadeem

Shahbaz Nadeem has represented India in a Test match just once, against South Africa. Since then, the 30-year-old has done wonders with India ‘A’ outside of Asia and is a consistent performer in the domestic circuit as well.

The left-handed spinner has indeed shown a lot of promise, he just needs to be backed by the selectors.

In 2018, Nadeem while playing for India ‘A’, scalped four wickets against England Lions.

Furthermore, in a series against West Indies ‘A’ in July-August, he picked up 15 wickets in two matches.

In his solitary appearance for India, Nadeem picked up four wickets, but since then he hasn’t be handed any opportunities to flourish.

As a spinner, the player from Jharkhand should be handed further opportunities to play in India, as well as outside of Asia.

2) Krishnappa Gowtham

Another one of the spinners from Karnataka who deserve a chance in the senior team, Krishnappa Gowtham has deemed himself a proven performer with India ‘A’ outside of Asia as well.

Despite this, he’s failed to break into the national team so far.

From 2018 to 2019, Gowtham played five unofficial matches for India ‘A’, wherein he amassed a total of 21 wickets.

The 31-year-old all-rounder recorded five wickets in three of those innings. Furthermore, in 2018, he picked up six wickets in a match against New Zealand ‘A’.

Despite his obvious talent, Gowtham’s route to the national team has been blocked so far, but he deserves a chance to represent India in test matches and can be a handy spin option outside of Asia.

1) Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav has been a proven performer for Team India in the past, but he’s suffering from an indifferent form lately. The Kanpur born lad has represented India in six Test matches, wherein he has 24 wickets to his name.

Of those, five of Kuldeep’s 24 wickets came in Two test matches outside of Asia, which speaks a lot about the talent this talented possesses.

Last year, India’s head coach Ravi Shastri said that the 25-year-will be given further opportunities.

However, due to a dip in form, he has not called up for the series versus New Zealand. Kuldeep hasn’t played a single Test match since the ICC ODI World Cup, 2019.