IPL 2018: 5 Indian spinners to watch out for
The new rules and heavy bats might have made life a lot easier for batsmen, however, at the end of the day a maiden over or a hat-trick can give a 180-degree turn to the course of a game and can easily overrule the effects of a scintillating batting performance.
Though pace bowlers generally open the innings with the ball and also handle the tough task of bowling toe-crushing yorkers towards the death, spinners control the middle overs and have an instrumental role to play in team's performance.
In the IPL, middle overs matter a lot, and spinners have a tough job restrict the run flow and pick up wickets to keep their team afloat in the game.
With less than seven days remaining in the great grand cricketing carnival. The spinners' role will surely be crucial for most of the teams.
We look at five Indian spinners who have an important role to play for their respective teams and have a lot riding on their head.
Note: All stats are accurate as of 30 March 2018
#5 Rahul Chahar
The 18-year-old leggie made his IPL debut in the previous season for Rising Pune Supergiant. Although he made only three appearances, he bowled a couple of tight spells. This time around the young spinner has a big responsibility at hand as he is the lone specialist spinner in the Mumbai Indians squad.
Akila Dhanajaya is the only notable spinner with some international exposure in the whole Mumbai line-up.
With the presence of experienced overseas players like Kieron Pollard, JP Duminy, Pat Cummins and Evin Lewis, the chances of Dhanajaya getting a place in the squad looks very slim. It essentially means that the young leggie from Rajasthan will have to bring his best game out for the defending champions.
It will be enthralling to see how the young spinner takes up to the daunting job of leading the spin attack for Mumbai.