{"id":18543,"date":"2026-03-27T05:16:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T23:46:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mavaldarpan.co.in\/?p=18543"},"modified":"2026-03-27T05:16:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T23:46:28","slug":"129820619-cms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mavaldarpan.co.in\/?p=18543","title":{"rendered":"‘We need to think about next spin pair after Jadeja-Ashwin’: Ex-India spinner Nilesh Kulkarni"},"content":{"rendered":"

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R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja (AFP Photo)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

As India stands on the cusp of a transition in their storied spin-bowling legacy, former India left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni offers a timely and nuanced assessment of where things stand. In this wide-ranging conversation, Kulkarni reflects on the shifting demands of red-ball cricket, the looming void post the Ravichandran Ashwin-Ravindra Jadeja era, and the urgent need to groom the next generation of match-winning spinners. <\/p>\n

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Watch<\/span><\/p>\n

Is T20 ruining India\u2019s test cricket?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

He also addresses the challenges Indian batters face against spin, the impact of evolving pitch conditions, and whether domestic structures are doing enough to nurture quality talent. Expanding beyond the boundary, Kulkarni shares his perspective on the growing influence of T20 cricket and the role of AI in sport \u2014 arguing for balance, adaptability, and opportunity. Excerpts:<\/span>Q. We are at a crucial juncture in where we go from here as far as a spin attack is concerned. What do you make of the position Indian cricket is in?<\/span>Kulkarni:<\/span> See, I think what happens is every era comes up with their own skills of delivery. And you talk about the previous era to the next generation to every decade. You require match winners in the department.And when I say match winners, I mean for red ball cricket. Because you have to perform well on not only Indian soil, but overseas soils also. And that changes a lot of dynamics with the skills, with the ability, with the experience. With the right focus and focused approach, especially in red ball cricket. (It) Changes the overall dynamics of how spin and spinners will perform. Because from red ball to white ball, it’s not easy to adapt. And from white ball to red ball, it’s a bigger challenge and a bigger journey to go. So that’s why I’m focussing more on a red ball. Because at end of the day, if you have to win a Test match, you have to take 20 wickets. And with the recent past of R Ashwin – (Ravindra) Jadeja duo, they actually successfully managed to do that. Before that, you had Harbhajan Singh spearheading that. Before that, Anil Kumble led the spin attack.And then all of us were part of that in and out. Venkatpati Raju played a critical role by doing great service. So in every decade, you need that pair to hunt as spinners.And my worry right now is, this is where we need to start thinking about which is that pair who’s going to do that job for India. When we start playing minus Ashwin, who’s already retired. And now Jadeja is towards the far end of his career. How long will he sustain? We want him to play more. But eventually, there will be a time for him to hang up his boots also. So this is exactly where we need to start investing in those bowlers who will actually start performing in red ball cricket by getting 5 wicket hauls and more.<\/p>\n

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\"Ravindra<\/p>\n

Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Q. Can you shed light on the spin bowling challenge that Indian batting faces at the moment? Where do you think the challenge begins and how do we work around it?<\/span>Kulkarni:<\/span> Well, I have two pieces of observations on this. An important one is that the wickets have changed across. And we are making more standardised structure also. That limits certain bowlers to take the advantage of it. But that doesn’t mean that the quality bowler cannot perform. This is exactly where the chicken and egg situation comes in.If you are doing some improvement in one area, you need to improve the skills also to complement that. Is it happening? Maybe not. Second, one of the areas where a lot of people have started investing a lot into fast bowlers. Are we having enough camps, enough penetration into spin department? If you analyse as a whole, every First Class team has got at least two spinners who are playing in the final XI. Every U-23 team has got 2-3 bowlers who are playing into their final XI. Every U-19 team is introducing two spinners into their final XI.That means there is enough and more talent available. Are we working on them to become match winners? It is something which we need to start focussing on from a state to the national team.This is the journey we have to think because every state is investing also in a spinner. But are they creating match winners is the start point of our conversation should be. Because that is where the crux of the matter lies.Earlier there used to be enough and more competition to push a spinner either to do well or phase out so that the next spinner comes and takes his place. Is it happening regularly? Maybe not.<\/p>\n

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\"Ranchi:<\/p>\n

Officials inspect the pitch ahead of the fourth Test cricket match between India and England at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, in Ranchi. (PTI)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Q. Do we emphasise too much on the surface, on what kind of pitches we want to present during a Test series?<\/span> Kulkarni:<\/span> Test series is a different game altogether. Let’s start with the First Class part. There are neutral curators also and that puts the perspective differently. Earlier you would have a local curator curating a pitch, customising and suiting to the local teams or state teams.That narratives have changed. So that means there is an openness. But that does not mean that you stop working on the spinner skill sets to get better.And seen in the past, I mean the likes of Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ashwin, even Jadeja, they have performed on a flatter surface also, also because they have the skills. If you have the skills, you will survive or you get better on any surface. Are we investing into that also is one area where we need to have an open conversation.Q. Another aspect to look at it, and is being remedied slightly, is that are we actually playing enough domestic cricket? Because unless you are challenged by different quality of players, different quality of spinners, you will not get better. <\/span>Kulkarni:<\/span> 100% you need to do that. That’s one of the message which we get to see from these selectors and the team management is to play First Class cricket. They are insisting on making sure that the selection criteria is based on the matches you play at the First Class level, which is so good to see.Because that encourages them to play in different conditions against different opportunities. Those who are actually playing regularly for Team India also. Which is a very good practise to have.Because in earlier days, and I am not comparing, but I have seen myself and I have experienced that Sachin Tendulkar, Sanjay Manjrekar would make themselves available to play for Mumbai every time they came back from India tour also. I think that is coming back slowly and that is allowing a youngster also to look at the established players who are representing India. Which puts different challenges, which adds more doubt in their mind to get better.<\/p>

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