I do not have a definitive answer to India's spin trouble: KL Rahul
Ranchi(PTI): Stand-in ODI skipper KL Rahul on Saturday conceded that Indian batters' repeated struggles against spin, especially on home tracks, remain a concern but he didn’t have a "definitive answer” to the decline of their traditional strength. His comment comes amid a worrying pattern of Indian batting line-up's repeated buckling against spinners on home tracks in Test cricket over the last two seasons -- once their fortress.
New Zealand in 2024 and then South Africa recently whitewashed India 3-0 and 2-0 respectively, on the back of relentless spin bowling led by left-arm spinners Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel (NZ) and off-spinner Simon Harmer (SA) on pitches that had dollops of turn.
"We haven’t played spin well enough in the last couple of seasons. I really don’t know why we did it earlier and why we aren’t doing it now. I don’t have a definitive answer. All we can do is to look at how to get better individually and as a batting group,” Rahul said on the eve of the first ODI against South Africa here.
Rahul said the batters will have to explore technical and tactical adjustments and it will be a long haul.
“It won’t change overnight. We’ll look at what improvements we need and hopefully by the time the Sri Lanka and Australia series come around, we’ll be better prepared. We’ll also reach out to seniors who played spin exceptionally well," he added.
Echoing the concern, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently said that India’s “pathetic” batting against spin has made them “probably one of the poorest spin-playing nations in the world.”
Rahul said Indian batters must individually “seek answers” and fine-tune their technique if they are to reclaim their traditional edge against spinners. The skipper said he had not yet inspected the Ranchi surface but expected a good batting wicket going by past ODIs here.
“Historically, this is a good pitch for runs. We’ll assess it tomorrow and pick the team that gives us the best chance to win,” he said.
Asked about Virat Kohli’s intense training session, where the former captain focused heavily on strike rotation, Rahul acknowledged the significance of rotation of strike in 50-overs format.
“In ODIs, singles are as important as boundaries. Virat is a master at that. We all keep learning from him. He’s excited to be back and his presence is always invaluable.”
With both Kohli and Rohit Sharma returning, Rahul said their influence was crucial in a dressing room looking to regain momentum after the Test series reversal.
“Their importance at any point is huge. To have senior players in the team obviously makes the dressing room feel a lot more confident.
Having their presence and experience helps out a lot of players in the dressing room and helps out the team. So, we are really happy that they are here.
"Winning is the most important thing. So, that is what we are trying to focus on. Trying to forget what happened a week ago and focus on the game tomorrow and see how we can put in a collective performance,” he said.
Rahul also welcomed the return of veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for the first time since the ICC Champions Trophy in March. "Jaddu has done the job for India time and again. His experience is huge for us,” he said.
Rahul said someone like Ruturaj Gaikwad was unlucky to miss out regularly due to a settled top-order but stressed that opportunities will come.
“Rutu is a top-class player. He will get his opportunity at some stage and we are looking forward to giving him the chance and letting him show what he can do and do the job for the team. There is never a question mark about his skill and how good he is as a player. It is just about the right opportunities and the right timing has come.,” he said.
Rahul said the playing XI will be finalised later and he did not commit to giving a start to Rishabh Pant, though said he is good enough to play as a pure batter.
Going by the hints, it looks like Pant won't be a part of the final XI. Rahul had kept wickets during the training session.
"He is someone who has been with the team for a long time and everyone has seen what he can and can't do for the team. The players who are already in the team and who are coming to perform, sometimes you just have to wait for your opportunity.
"You will find out tomorrow who will be playing and who will be left behind. But obviously, he is good enough to play as a batter as well. But if he is in the 11th, then obviously he will take the gloves," he noted.
Rahul, who will continue at No. 6, said India’s ODI focus remains on rhythm and tactical discipline. “ODI cricket is about mindset. Everyone is good technically. It’s about reading situations better,” he said.
On MS Dhoni possibly attending the match in his hometown, Rahul said even the team gets energised by his presence.
“We all grew up watching MS. If he’s at the stadium, the players and the crowd both feel the buzz,” he said.
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Jai Bhim: Slogan that energised Dalits was first given at this central Maharashtra village
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (PTI): 'Jai Bhim': These two words have come to symbolise the awakening and empowerment of the Dalit community in independent India, but not many people know how it originated.
The slogan, which also encapsulates the immense reverence in which Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is held, was first raised at the Makranpur Parishad, a conference organised at Makranpur village in Kannad teshil of today's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district in Maharashtra.
Ambedkar, the chief architect of India's Constitution, died on December 6, 1956.
Bhausaheb More, the first president of the Scheduled Castes Federation of Marathwada, organised the first Makranpur Parishad on December 30, 1938.
Dr Ambedkar spoke at the conference and asked the people not to support the princely state of Hyderabad under which much of central Maharashtra then fell, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Pravin More, Bhausaheb's son.
"When Bhausaheb stood up to speak, he said every community has its own deity and they greet each other using the name of that deity. Dr Ambedkar showed us the path of progress, and he is like God to us. So henceforth, we should say 'Jai Bhim' while meeting each other. The people responded enthusiastically. A resolution accepting 'Jai Bhim' as the community's slogan was also passed," More told PTI.
"My father came in contact with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in his early years. Bhausaheb was aware of the atrocities the Nizam state committed on Dalits. He told Ambedkar about these atrocities, including the pressure to convert. Dr Ambedkar was strongly against these atrocities, and he decided to attend the 1938 conference," he said.
As Ambedkar was against the princely states, he was banned from giving speeches in the Hyderabad state but was allowed to travel through its territories. The Shivna river formed the border between Hyderabad and British India. Makranpur was chosen as the venue for the first conference because it was on the banks of Shivna but lay in the British territory, ACP More said.
The stage made of bricks, from where Dr Ambedkar addressed the conference, still stands. The conference is organised on December 30 every year to carry forward Ambedkar's thought, and the tradition was not discontinued even in 1972 when Maharashtra experienced one of the worst droughts in it history.
"My grandmother pledged her jewellery for the conference expenses. People from Khandesh, Vidarbha and Marathwada attended it. Despite a ban imposed by the Nizam's police, Ambedkar's followers crossed the river to attend the event," said ACP More.
"This is the 87th year of Makranpur Parishad. We have deliberately retained the venue as it helps spread Ambedkar's thought in rural areas," he added.
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