The T20 World Cup 2026 has had India reeling against spin. After dominating bilaterals in the build-up to the World Cup, India have faltered on the grandest stage of all. Not only are India struggling to play spin, against South Africa it seemed that they had forgotten to bowl it as well.
In India, where batting against spin is second nature, India’s problems have emerged in the worst possible manner at the worst possible time. The issue against spin has become so prominent that every single opposition team has now started their attack with an off-spinner.
The results of that have been catastrophic. World No.1 T20I opener Abhishek Sharma has fallen to off-spin twice — against Aryan Dutt and Salman Agha. The disease looks contagious, as in-form batter Ishan Kishan lost his wicket in the same manner against South Africa, trying to muscle Aiden Markram out of the park.
And this comes as highly surprising from a team who have probably faced thousands of overs of spin bowling growing up. They should be masters of the art. Yet a troubling pattern has emerged, one that questions technical ability, tactical thinking, and team composition. Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, the current and former top-ranked T20I batters, have poor strike rates against spin. Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh are on the list as well.
Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull had summed it up during New Zealand’s series against India in 2024: “There is a misconception that India is good at playing spin. They are like everyone else. Gone are the days of Sachin, Ganguly, or Dravid. Now, they struggle against good spinners.”
Since that great batting era ended, India has been repeatedly troubled by quality spin. The issue has compounded in this edition of the World Cup.
THE T20I DILEMMA
The problem has spread into India’s T20I setup. Whether playing at home or touring spin-friendly Sri Lanka in 2024, Indian batters have looked puzzled against quality finger spin. The left-heavy top order has become predictable fodder for opposition off-spinners.
Ryan ten Doeschate, India’s assistant coach, acknowledged this during the T20 World Cup 2026, admitting that the team’s struggles against finger spin and the predictability of their left-handed top order were pressing concerns.
But here’s where it gets worse: while Indian batters struggle against spin, India’s own spin attack has lost its edge.
THE AHMEDABAD BLUNDER
The Super 8 clash against South Africa in Ahmedabad in February 2026 showed India’s confusion. The team management dropped vice-captain Axar Patel (one of India’s most reliable T20I spinners) for Washington Sundar. The reasoning? Match-ups against South Africa’s three left-handers.
The decision backfired. Sundar bowled just two overs for 17 runs without a wicket. India’s spin attack was dismantled as David Miller and Dewald Brevis counter-attacked with ease. The 76-run defeat exposed the folly of overthinking match-ups.
The data makes it more perplexing. Axar’s average against left-handed batters stands at 16.2, numbers that suggest he could have built pressure. Instead, India’s tinkering cost them the ability to create bowling partnerships, crucial in controlling the middle overs.
South Africa, by contrast, stuck with Keshav Maharaj, their left-arm spinner, to bowl at India’s six powerful left-handers. Aiden Markram’s early removal of Ishan Kishan was also key. The contrast in vision was stark.
WHAT VISITING SPINNERS DO RIGHT
The answer lies in fundamentals rather than mystery balls. Let’s take Test cricket, for example. Back in 2024, the first time India were whitewashed by New Zealand in the history of Test cricket, Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner didn’t bamboozle Indian batters with variations alone. They bowled disciplined lines, attacked the stumps consistently, and forced batters to play off pitches that offered variable bounce and turn.
Both spinners also benefited from partnerships. New Zealand used Santner and Ajaz in tandem, with Phillips chipping in with crucial breakthroughs. One year later, when South Africa toured India, the Proteas unleashed Simon Harmer, a spinner with years of first-class success under his belt. Harmer bowled in tandem with Keshav Maharaj, handing the Proteas a clean sweep against India, in India.
WHAT ARE INDIA DOING WRONG?
India’s recent approach has been marked by constant experimentation and an obsession with match-ups rather than partnerships. The dropping of Axar shows this tendency to tinker when stability is needed most.
The problems run deep. Flat domestic pitches mean young batters rarely face quality finger spin. White-ball cricket has prioritised power over technique against spin.
For bowlers, the obsession with immediate impact has replaced patience. Partnerships have been sacrificed for match-ups and quick wickets.
India must return to fundamentals. The nation that once mastered spin through discipline and partnerships cannot afford to abandon those principles now.
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