R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja (Photo by AFP) As India stand on the cusp of a transition in their legendary spin-bowling legacy, former Indian left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni offers a timely and nuanced assessment of where things stand. In this wide-ranging interview, Kulkarni reflects on the changing demands of red-ball cricket, the looming void after the Ravichandran Ashwin-Ravindra Jadeja era and the urgent need to groom the next generation of match-winning spinners.
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Is T20 Ruining Indian Test Cricket?It also looks at the challenges Indian batsmen face against spin, the impact of evolving pitch conditions and whether domestic structures are doing enough to nurture quality talent. Expanding beyond borders, Kulkarni shares his perspective on the growing influence of T20 cricket and the role of artificial intelligence in the sport – championing balance, adaptability and opportunity. excerpts:Q: We’re at a key point where we go from here in terms of the rotation offense. What do you think about the position of Indian cricket?Kulkarni: See, I think what happens is that each era comes with its own delivery capabilities. And you talk about the previous era with the next generation up to every decade. You require match winners in the department.And when I say match winners, I mean red ball cricket. Because you have to perform well not only on Indian soil but also on overseas soil. And that changes a lot of dynamics with skills, with abilities, with experience. With the right focus and focused approach, especially in red ball cricket. (It) Changes the overall dynamic of how spins and spinners will work. Because from red ball to white ball it is not easy to adapt. And from the white ball to the red ball, it’s a bigger challenge and a bigger journey. That’s why I focus more on the red ball. Because at the end of the day, if you have to win a Test match, you have to take 20 wickets. And with the recent past of the R Ashwin – (Ravindra) Jadeja duo, they have actually managed to do it successfully. Before that, you had Harbhajan Singh in the lead. Before that, Anil Kumble led the spin attack.And then we were all part of it in and out. Venkatpati Raju played a key role by rendering great service. So in every decade you need this pair to hunt as a spinner.And right now I’m afraid this is where we have to start thinking about which pair will do the job for India. When we start playing minus Ashwin who is now retired. And now Jadeja is at the end of his career. How long will it last? We want him to play more. But eventually the time will come for him to hang up his boots as well. So this is exactly where we need to start investing in those bowlers who will actually start playing red ball cricket by taking 5 wickets and more.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin
Q: Can you shed some light on the bowling challenge that the Indian batting is facing at the moment? Where do you think this challenge starts and how can we get around it?Kulkarni: Well, I have two observations about this. Importantly, the goals have changed across the board. And we are also creating a more standardized structure. This limits some pitchers from taking advantage of it. But that doesn’t mean a quality pitcher can’t perform. This is exactly where the chicken and egg situation comes into play.If you are making some improvement in one area, you need to improve your skills to complement it. is this happening Maybe not. Second, one of the areas where many people have started investing heavily in fast bowlers. Do we have enough camps, enough penetration in the spin department? If you analyze as a whole, every First Class team has at least two spinners playing in the final XI. Each U-23 team has 2-3 bowlers who play in their final eleven. Each U-19 team field two spinners in their final XI.This means that there is enough and more talent available. Are we working on them to become match winners? It’s something we need to start focusing on from state to national team.This is the way we have to think because every state is also investing in spinner. But the fact that they create match-winners is the starting point of our conversation. Because therein lies the crux of the matter.There used to be enough and more competition to nudge a spinner to do well or phase him out for another spinner to come and take his place. Does this happen regularly? Maybe not.
Officials inspect the pitch before the fourth Test cricket match between India and England at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. (PTI)
Q: Are we emphasizing too much on the surface, on what type of pitches do we want to present during the Test series? Kulkarni: Test series is a different game altogether. Let’s start with First Class. There are also neutral curators and this gives a different perspective. Before, you would have a local curator who would curate the pitch, adapt it and adapt it to local teams or state teams.That the narrative has changed. This means that there is openness. But that doesn’t mean you stop working on your spinner skills to improve.And seen in the past, I mean the likes of Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ashwin, even Jadeja have also performed on a flatter surface, also because they have the ability. If you have the skills, you will survive or improve on any surface. We are also investing in this is one area where we need to have an open conversation.Q: Another aspect to look at and which is slightly corrected is are we really playing enough domestic cricket? Because if you’re not challenged by a different quality of players, a different quality of spinners, you’re not going to improve. Kulkarni: You 100% have to do it. That’s one of the messages we see from these selectors and leading the team is to play first-class cricket. They insist on making sure the selection criteria is based on the matches you play at first class level, which is so good to see.Because it encourages them to play in different conditions against different opportunities. Those who actually play regularly for Team India. Which is very good practice.Because in the earlier days, and I’m not comparing it, but I saw and experienced that Sachin Tendulkar, Sanjay Manjrekar made themselves available to play for Mumbai every time they came back from the India tour as well. I think it is slowly coming back and it allows a young person to look at the established players who are representing India as well. Which poses different challenges which adds more doubt in their mind to improve.
File photo of Indian spinner Varun Chakaravartha
Question: How much should T20 competitions be blamed for this whole struggle we are having? Kulkarni: (T20 is) here to stay. So there is no point in blaming yourself. And I’ll use another analogy to give you an answer. Cricket is the only format that has three international variants. Let’s enjoy this phase. But make no mistake, as a bowler you have to start learning how to adapt to red-ball cricket, to the 50-50 format, to the T20 format. The challenges are different.But the skills needed to survive and sustain, you have to work on those skills. Once you start working on these skills, you will become better. And once you become confident and better, we saw that Ashwin, Jadeja could survive. We saw Muttiah Muralitharan. We have seen Mitchell Santner doing phenomenally well. We have seen how Daniel Vettori has done a great job while playing in the IPL.So if you are a good spinner, you will find a way. But make no mistake, they are all brilliant at red ball cricket. And so they adapted to white-ball cricket. They are champion bowlers, wicket takers in red ball cricket.
Artificial intelligence graphics. (Getty Images)
Q: I’m going to go to the other side of this sport. We’re in an age where artificial intelligence is controlling much of what we do, and you, as an educator, have a strong sense of that position. where do you stand Are you for the use of AI in sports or against the use of AI? Kulkarni: Of course, I am a big supporter of any change. And AI is here to stay. We have to accept it, accept it and adapt accordingly.But I have to point out one small thing. AI in sports will not have a significant impact. In fact, it will be complementary when it comes to creating opportunities.It can be reduced by 1-3% in terms of relevance in this context section. However, it will create 40% more opportunities, including job creation. As the sport expands, artificial intelligence cannot replace the physical intervention or the intervention of the human component in it.So it adds up. But it will create more job opportunities. What I predict in the next 3-5 years will increase the job market by 30-50% in sports alone. Direct, indirect, you put it together. To me, this is a bigger opportunity, given that in other industries AI will have a job-cutting impact. I personally believe that sports will increase the number of jobs.Q: Where do you see this change happening?Kulkarni: The appetite is in physical form with respect to athlete management, media, broadcasting, content creation, event management, sales and marketing, operations, logistics, travel and tourism. All of these areas, including data analysis, will require the physical presence of a human to harness AI. It cannot be replaced.So, for example, a biomechanist or an athlete or a strength and conditioning specialist or a nutritionist will not be replaced. You will need them to be part of your team at every stage. And that’s exactly what I’m trying to point out.At each stage you will require these specialized skills to complement each other. AI can add a layer is that it can actually give you right and wrong directions. However, the physical part of these components will only improve, because the analytical perspective can only be judged by what works for you, may not work for me.
Former Indian spinner Nilesh Kulkarni (C) during the event. (Instagram)
Q: Can AI or data analytics teams completely take over coaching?Kulkarni: In sports, I don’t think it will happen. It complements, but cannot replace.It certainly complements and adds an edge, but it cannot replace, especially in the sports industry. And for me it’s a bigger space because we want to create more jobs considering that India is hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and India wants to host the Olympics in 2036. You need a significant amount of manpower to actually host these events.Q: You have worked with IIM Mumbai. What does the association entail?Kulkarni: Yes, it’s a very interesting piece where we use sport as a key vehicle to really bring management insights into sport. And that’s what this collaboration is all about as IIM Mumbai, formerly NITIE, has now been given the status of IIM Mumbai, ranked 6th in the NIRF Management Rankings.And they are known for their operations and supply chain management. And so they decided to collaborate with sports and use sports as a vehicle to convey all the management lessons. And we are extremely proud and grateful to Professor Tiwari, who is the director who has really done a great job of creating the IIM credentials and the program actually speaks of a unique feature.All management lessons of critical thinking, risk assessment, analytical perspectives, leadership, management lessons all integrate using sports and use pre-part more than post. While general management lessons, post is more talked about than full-time. We use sport as a vehicle to convey the prep work, planning and readiness to deliver what is expected in the corporate world.
