CHENNAI: When the squad for New Zealand T20Is were announced, India had four spin options, including three specialists, in the ranks. Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy and Naman Dhir. Washington Sundar would have been there too under normal circumstances but this being a long multi-format tour, the selectors and team management wanted the senior off-spinning all-rounder to focus on the longer format.
While Washington is part of the India A squad, playing the second red-ball match in New Zealand, four T20Is and a scoreline of 3-1 later, India have fielded only two of the four spinners in the squad - Axar and Naman - for obvious reasons.
Axar and Naman's capabilities with the bat superseded that of Varun and Kuldeep without a doubt. And going by the conditions that have been on offer, the team management's preference for bowlers who can bat is no surprise. It is a template that has brought them a lot of success and this series is no different.
However, as is the case with such tactics, it can also fail. Like it did in the fourth T20I while bowling first at a venue where the straight boundaries are one of the shortest in the world. Together, Axar and Naman bowled four overs, went for 59 runs while accounting for a lone wicket as New Zealand posted 259/7 before beating India. Skipper Shreyas Iyer, as he does at times, directed the reason for loss towards bowlers.
The question, however, that needs to be answered is whether the bowling unit, which had three all-rounders, stood a fair chance. Then again, it is a sword they live and die by. Spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said Kuldeep and Varun missed out because of team combinations and they are very much aware of it. Asked what the spinners could do, Bahutule said, it was about being attacking. "I think we encourage our bowlers to be attacking. Sometimes being defensive can also be an attacking role.
There are different situations which need to be handled, like Axar is somebody who bowls in the powerplay and whichever over he's given, he executes it really well. When you have Varun and Kuldeep in the wings, they too are ready to bowl at any stage. They play a different role in the conditions but there is a lot of clarity given to them in terms of what is expected from them," Bahutule said after the fourth T20I. "When the opportunity arises for them to contribute and play, I'm sure they are very much prepared and will help them to get better in the coming tournaments," he added.
After Monday, Varun will fly back to India as he is not a part of the other two formats and turn up for Tamil Nadu in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Kuldeep will play a part at least in the ODIs. In Tests, however, it is not a guarantee considering the team management's track record and how he is not a part of the India A side at this point.
For now, it is just about the last T20I for them. Come Sunday, it will be interesting to see if either one of the spinners get a chance.