Even though New Zealand administrators have promised for ‘sporting tracks’ in the upcoming series against India, the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja may have to make the heavy weather of taking the Kiwi scalps.
Even though New Zealand administrators have promised for ‘sporting tracks’ in the upcoming series against India, the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja may have to make the heavy weather of taking the Kiwi scalps. After a dithering tour of South Africa, the young Indian team led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni sets its feet on Kiwiland, where green covers, overcast conditions will welcome them with ‘open arms’. The pace attack looks decent enough but the worrying factor still remains – Spinners.
Seeing Ashwin under-perform in South Africa shows how bad the situation is with when we go overseas. Skipper MS Dhoni has his view. As quoted in the Times of India, Mahi says, “Spinners learn to accept that when they travel abroad, especially when they are bowling on Day One of a Test match, they have a different role. They need to have a bit more patience and not give them runs and that will ensure we build pressure from one end and when the ball turns, go for the kill.”
Dhoni is absolutely right here, Ashwin and Jadeja do need the patience factor within them if the duo have to survive the windfall. The Saurashtra left-arm spinner might have picked up 6 wickets in the 2nd Test against the Proteas but that does NOT solve the issue! The tracks in New Zealand might or might not support spin bowling but Ashwin or Jadeja need to put their guard down and bowl to their strengths. Having represented the India Blues in over 70 ODIs, Ashwin has the guile and skipper’s backing to fight back. His bowling in England in the 2013 Champions Trophy was a key moment in India’s success in the tournament and may be that is required when the team visit New Zealand.
If patience is not working for them, Dhoni might need to pull the axe. Amit Mishra is waiting in the wings and his wrist spin might work ahead of the ‘carrom ball’.
