In a format where six runs per over is considered a possession phase, India are scoring 6.23 per over against off-spin in this tournament. They faced 102 off-spin deliveries in the group stage, the most of any team. Among the 13 sides that have bowled at least six overs off spin, India’s run rate of 6.23 is bettered only by Nepal at 5.25 and Oman at 5.42. Almost every other team scored eight or more runs off more than the same type of bowling. India’s average against off-spin is 13.25. The problem is not limited to pace. The gates fell regularly.
The pattern was easy to spot. Six left-handers feature in India’s top eight. The top three Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma are all left-handed. For the opposing captains, the match is clear. Bowling off spin to them, bowl it early, and take it.
INDIA ADMITS TURNING THE STRUGGLE
Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus was the first to reveal this method in Delhi. His off-spin round arm didn’t rely on extravagant spin. He varied his release points, varied the angles and forced the Indian batsmen to play against the spin that came into them. In Colombo, Pakistan’s Usman Tariq, Salman Agha and Saim Ayub withstood the pressure. They weren’t sending mysterious deliveries. They changed pace slightly, kept a solid length and denied peace. The plan was simple and repeatable. India struggled immensely with Erasmus in Namibia. (PTI Photo)
The Netherlands applied it precisely in Ahmedabad. Aryan Dutt played three overs in the over and finished with figures of 4 for 19. He dismissed Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. Moving at a constant speed of 98 to 99 kilometers per hour, Dutt relied on slip and accuracy. At similar speeds, Colin Ackermann missed his lengths and conceded three sixes. The difference was in the controls.
Abhishek’s tournament reflected the wider struggle. Started with a score of 0, 0, 0. He fell twice when attempting attacking shots against off-spin. One of those dismissals came when Salman Agha opened the bowling with the new ball. When dismissals start to cluster against one type of bowling, a technical problem can quickly turn into a psychological one. Abhishek suffered three back-to-back ducks. (Photo: AP)
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate addressed the issue after India’s 17-run win over the Netherlands. He admitted that India are yet to play a complete game in the tournament. He acknowledged that the left-heavy top order made it easier for opponents to plan. “It has made it easier for teams to plan against India. We don’t have many options in the top three. We have Sanju sitting in the side. On reflection we still feel they are our best batsmen and we can do with a lot of left-handers,” he said. Doeschate added that the challenge isn’t the off-spin itself, but the overall approach against toe-spin, an area that needs improvement heading into the Super 8s.
‘THE NUMBERS GAME’
The numbers highlight why concerns cannot be dismissed. India faced more off-spin than any other team in the group stage, totaling 102 deliveries. Among the 13 sides that have bowled at least six overs off spin, they average just 6.23 runs per over, a rate only better than Nepal’s 5.25 and Oman’s 5.42. Almost every other team went for eight or more per over. India’s average of 13.25 against off-spin confirms that the problem is not just tied, but also losing wickets regularly. The numbers are unambiguous. 102 balls faced. 6.23 runs per over. average 13.25.
Super 8s will bring similar tests. South Africa have Aiden Markram as an off-spin option. Zimbabwe may turn to Sikandar Raza, who has opened the bowling in big matches. West Indies have Roston Chase who is capable of operating in the powerplay. New Zealand also has finger spin options. The template was spread over four games. There is little reason for opponents to deviate from it.
There is also a structural question surrounding the batting order. Tilak Varma was largely ranked third and Suryakumar Yadav fourth. Against off-spin, Tilak scored 26 off 31 balls. Suryakumar made 28 off 27 and was dismissed once. The replacement seems simple. Wider numbers complicate this call. Against the pace in the powerplay, Tilak scored 62 off 41 balls. Suryakumar is 29 off 26 at the same stage. After 10 overs, Suryakumar’s score climbs above 10 per over overall and above 15 per over against pace. The current structure suggests that Tilak is expected to absorb the initial risk while Suryakumar accelerates later. Will Tilak pick up the scoring pace in the Super 8s? (Photo: AP)
The conditions also played a role. The shift from the slower surfaces of Colombo to the slippery pitch of Ahmedabad required an adjustment. Pitchers who undercut the ball became more dangerous on surfaces offering more slip than sharp turns. India looked shaky in this transition and paid for it with early wickets and a halt to scoring.
‘SUPER 8 STAGE AHEAD’
Four wins in four matches ensures that this problem has yet to cost India a result. They have controlled matches in other departments and continue to look balanced in most areas. Specialist off-spinners are not as common in modern T20 cricket as they once were, with many teams relying on part-time bowlers or batting all-rounders. But in a tournament that narrows rapidly in the knockout stages, a recurring weakness is becoming a target. Can Shivam Dube be India’s answer to spin woes? (Photo: AP)
The Super 8s will test whether India can find clearer methods against toe-spin, spin better, disrupt lengths and prevent early stagnation. If they don’t, the same quiet method that contained them in the group stage could prove decisive when the margins are tighter and the stakes are higher in the ICC T20 World Cup knockouts.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 20, 2026