Should India stop obsessing with rank turners in home Tests?

India’s shocking 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test at Kolkata has triggered a long-brewing debate of whether India’s obsession with rank turners is now hurting them more than helping. Failing to chase 124 on a home pitch, their fourth home defeat in just over a year, has drawn immense attention. What was once a strength built on spin dominance is becoming a problem that India themselves are unable to tackle.

Ever since England’s Chennai Test in 2021, India have leaned aggressively toward pitches providing turn from day one. What was earlier a counter-tactic to neutralise touring teams has gradually become a fixation. Gautam Gambhir’s public revelation of turning wickets from day one has gone against the team. Since last year, India has lost home Tests to New Zealand in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai, and now to South Africa in Kolkata.

Notably, captain Shubman Gill insisted a month ago that India had moved away from rank turners; yet Eden Gardens produced one of the driest, most difficult surfaces seen in recent years, leading to a collapse of 38 wickets inside eight sessions.

India’s strategy of providing extreme turn has come from reducing the toss impact. However, India lost the toss in their last three home defeats, and in all three, batting last was tough. These surfaces provide visiting teams an early window of easier batting, and India no longer has the batting depth or experience to recover from that disadvantage.

Moreover, excessive turn has narrowed the skill gap between India’s world-class spinners and visiting ones. Since 2020, six foreign spinners have taken maiden five-fors in India. On normal Indian pitches, Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have averages better than overseas bowlers, but on extreme turners, that gap narrows down.

The Kolkata Test also saw India pick four spinners, the first such instance since the Nagpur Test in 2012. They benched a natural No. 3 in Sai Sudharsan, and delayed Jasprit Bumrah’s second innings introduction when South Africa were struggling at 93 for 7. India has now lost four of their last six home Tests despite having the most complete bowling attack in the world.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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