Spin all-rounders in India once used to be a rare breed. There were Indian spinners like S. Venkatraghvan and Bishan Singh Bedi who were proper spinners. They didn’t know how to bat, to say the least.
However, with the advent of ODI & T20 cricket, the country started to produce players like Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin. And these two gave way to many more Indian spin all-rounders who have started to emerge in the last five years.
Take a look at the top all-rounders in India, who are spinners by role in the team.
Top 5 Best Spin All-rounders in India
Indian spinner all-rounders are a new trend in international cricket, as they are creating an impact in the game of cricket.
- Earlier, there were spinners and they were all-rounders, but there were no spin all-rounders in India.
- Back in the day, it was the likes of S Venkatraghvan, Bishan Singh Bedi who would purchase extra turns on the pitch, but weren’t able to score extra runs.
- This led to the team management using the top order batters as makeshift spinners.
But with the end of the last decade, India started to see smart cricketers like Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin who would not only take wickets for you but would also double up as lower middle-order batters.
Let’s take a look at the top five spin all-rounders in India.
Ravindra Jadeja | The Best Spin All-rounder in India:
Whenever you hear the term spin bowling all-rounders, the first name that pops up in your mind is Ravindra Jadeja. And there is a reason for it.
- Jadeja has perhaps revolutionized the way white-ball cricket is played.
- When you have someone like Jadeja at your disposal, you can save two spots—one for the finisher and one for someone who could give you breakthroughs in the middle.
- Jadeja is perhaps the only Indian cricketer who doesn’t have to think twice about his place since his utility is so important to the team.
- He can bat, bowl, and pull off some amazing catches.
That’s why he just keeps coming back in. In the aftermath of India’s shocking defeat against Pakistan during the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, he was dropped from the side.
Nevertheless, he was back in the ODI team within a year’s time and is now a permanent player in the buildup to the ODI World Cup in 2023.
Ravi Ashwin:
Alongside Jadeja, one other player was also dropped from the Indian team for a while. And that was Ravi Ashwin.
- Ashwin never quite made the impact Jadeja made in white-ball cricket, but he does fall under the category of Indian spin all-rounders who have surely made an impact in Test match cricket.
- The 36-year-old has slammed five hundreds in the longer version of the game, with his highest score of 124 coming against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens in 2013.
All these feats make sure that Ashwin enters the list of the best spin all-rounders in India.
Axar Patel:
In cricketing circles, Axar is considered a carbon copy of Ravindra Jadeja. In fact, there is a saying that Axar might not play an ODI match as long as Jadeja is there.
- Whatever chance he got, Axar managed to let the ball do all the talking.
- He has played 12 Tests, taking 50 wickets in the process with career-best figures of 6/38.
Moreover, he also played in 53 ODIs, picking up 58 wickets, which shows how potent a weapon he can be.
Washington Sundar:
This young man from Trichy, Tamil Nadu, is the next generation of Indian spin all-rounders to have made it big.
- In the 2022 IPL, Sundar played a crucial role for Sunrisers Hyderabad. In fact, SRH built a team around him.
- Sundar has Test aspirations, but it is his street-smart ability that makes him a white-ball specialist for India.
- He has a short and sweet bowling action and hurries the batters with his pace.
- After making his India debut at the tender age of 17, Sundar has been able to make rapid strides in international cricket.
He hasn’t had much opportunity to play ODI cricket but has managed to pick up 16 wickets in those many games.
Moreover, he has played 35 T20I games and ended up picking up 29 wickets in the shortest format of the game.
Krunal Pandya is among the Forgotten Spin All-rounders in India:
The senior Pandya wasn’t able to make that much of an impact like his younger brother Hardik did.
- While he is in line to be the India ODI captain, Krunal is no longer in the picture for any sort of comeback.
- He made his India debut against England in 2021, accounting for 130 runs in five matches. Moreover, he picked up a couple of wickets.
When it comes to the shortest format, Pandya played 19 T20Is, accounting for 124 runs. He also picked up 15 wickets in the process.
Why Spinner All-Rounders Are So Important in Cricket?
Indian spin all-rounders are more important in the scheme of ODI cricket than Test match cricket.
- Since in ODI cricket, you need bowlers in the middle who would take over after the pacers are done bowling in the first 15 overs.
- Having someone like Jadeja gives you a leeway to operate with freedom in the middle overs, especially between overs 16 to 35.
- These are mundane overs, and the spinner all-rounder ensures that he gets through the overs, occasionally taking a breakthrough or two in the process.
Moreover, the spin all-rounders can also double up as finishers and help the team accumulate runs very quickly.
Final Thoughts On Spin All-rounders in India
Spin all-rounders in India is no longer a scanty community. With each passing day and in the days after the IPL, unconventional cricket has become mainstream.
Players are no longer forced to stick to just one role. In fact, they are encouraged to double up as a part time bowler if they are already pros at batting.
This has ensured that new generations of spin all-rounders are coming out like Washington Sundars and Rahul Tewatia. Players who can fill in the gap once Jadeja and Ashwin retire from the scene.
FAQ Regarding Spin All-rounders in India
Ravindra Jadeja is the best Indian spin all-rounder currently.
Ashwin is among the best, if not the best. His white ball record leaves a lot to be desired.
Washington Sundar can be among the best in the next few years, provided that he is groomed properly.
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