"The moment they see a turning track in IPL, they complain" - Simon Doull slams Indian batters for spin game in 2nd IND vs NZ 2024 Test
New Zealand's former cricketer and pundit Simon Doull slammed India's batters for their spin game against the Kiwis in the ongoing Pune Test on Friday, October 25.
He said that it was a "misconception" that the current Indian players were the best against spin in the world, adding that this generation was quite far away from the days of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid.
His comments came after the first session on Day 2 when India were 107/7 chasing 259. They went on to lose the remaining three wickets for 49 runs, with left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner taking his career-best 7/53. Two of the remaining wickets went to part-time off-spinner Glenn Phillips.
“I think it is a misconception around the world now that these modern Indian players are better playing spin than anyone else," Doull said on JioCinema (via Hindustan Times).
"They are not. They are the same as everyone else around the world. Gone are the days of Ganguly, Gambhir, Laxman and Dravid. Sachin was so, so good against spin, and the era before them. I think good quality spinners are just as good as getting India out on turning tracks as Indian spinners against good quality opposition batters. And the moment they see a turning track in IPL, they complain,” he said.
The stringent remark about IPL is quite telling, too. The pitches in India's premier competition have gotten flatter by the year and IPL 2024 saw some of the highest totals in history. And given the volume of cricket in the picture, some senior batters don't play domestic red-ball cricket, where most turning tracks are, either.
New Zealand pile on the Indian misery with the bat
India's condition was worsened by the lack of teeth shown by their bowling in spinning conditions.
New Zealand scored 85 runs in the 20 overs before Tea and India could pick up only two wickets, putting the visitors in the driving seat.
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