Navjot Singh Sidhu's foolproof mantra to play spin for Indian batters

India's Test series loss to New Zealand exposed their struggles against spin on home soil. Navjot Singh Sidhu's foolproof mantra offers timely guidance, urging batters to step up, watch closely, and stay flexible against turning deliveries.

In Short

• India suffered a historic 0-3 Test series loss at home
• The Indian batters were unable to counter the spin bowling challenges
• Key players like Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan faltered vs spin

India’s recent 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand at home has exposed a glaring vulnerability against spin bowling, a skill once considered a hallmark of Indian batting. On spinning tracks in Pune and Mumbai, India’s lineup faltered, posting low scores of 156, 245, 263, and 121 across the series. Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan struggled notably against spin, while captain Rohit Sharma didn’t last long enough to face spinners, often dismissed by pacers. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja also couldn’t find answers to New Zealand’s spinners, leaving Rishabh Pant as the lone fighter in India’s fourth-innings chase of 147, which ended 21 runs short.

Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu’s old advice on playing spin has resurfaced, gaining traction online, and he expanded on it with a four-point “playbook” for Indian batters on November 6. Sidhu highlighted key tactics to counter spin effectively and avoid the traps that plagued India in this series.

Watch the video here-

Sidhu’s first piece of advice is to “step out often to the spinner to clutter his mind, keep him guessing.” By advancing down the pitch, he suggests, batters can unsettle the bowler’s rhythm and disrupt their plans. His second point builds on this approach, advising batters to step out at the “point of no return”—the bowler’s point of delivery. “Ensure that you step out when he is at a point of no return (point of delivery); it comes with instinct and hours of practice,” Sidhu emphasised.

Sidhu's advice for Indian batters

The former cricketer’s third piece of advice is to focus on the bowler’s wrist, a crucial indicator for spin. “Watch his wrist like a hawk till the end [to] code the delivery,” Sidhu suggested, explaining that this focus helps batters anticipate the turn and adjust their response accordingly. Lastly, Sidhu advised a subtle forward movement to keep options open. “A small initial forward movement allows you to play the ball late and adjust going back and forth,” he explained, adding that committing too early can leave the batter exposed. He cautioned that “lunge or commit, and you’re at the bowler’s mercy—a dying duck in a thunderstorm.”

Sidhu’s strategic breakdown comes as a timely guide for Indian batters struggling on turning tracks. By applying these techniques, India’s lineup might better handle the challenges of spin and avoid future collapses on home soil.