Champions Trophy final: India spin quartet awaits finest hour | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: India’s spin bowling arsenal has long been a cornerstone of its cricketing dominance. The ongoing ICC Champions Trophy has ensured the tradition carries on with the spin quartet of Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy being instrumental in India’s journey to the final.
Each brings a distinct style and skill set, collectively weaving a web that has trapped opposition batsmen and propelled India in the tournament. Whether it’s controlling the opposition’s scoring or picking up crucial wickets, the Indian spin quartet has proven itself to be a formidable force.
Their performances have not only highlighted individual brilliance but also underscored the importance of strategic variety in a bowling attack.
Axar Patel: Metronomic, Powerplay expert
Axar Patel’s bowling is characterized by relentless accuracy and subtle variations. As a left-arm orthodox, he maintains a tight line and length, making it challenging for batsmen to score freely. He is skipper Rohit Sharma’s go-to spinner in the first ten Powerplay overs, offering control and precision. His ability to extract bounce, even on placid surfaces, adds an extra dimension to his bowling.
In the Champions Trophy, Axar’s performances have been instrumental in India’s success. In the group stage match against Bangladesh, he showcased his wicket-taking ability by dismissing two key batsmen in the Powerplay.
His economy rate (4.51) in the tournament has been exemplary – the best among the four Indian spinners – often stifling the opposition’s run flow and inducing false shots.
Ravindra Jadeja: Experienced, explores turn
In comparison with Axar, Jadeja is more orthodox with his left-arm spin. He brings a wealth of experience to the team, having played in numerous ICC tournaments. Jadeja’s bowling is characterized by his ability to read the game situation and adjust his strategy accordingly. He can bowl with varying speeds and trajectories, explore turn from the wicket, and also has the ability to skid the ball off the surface – thus making him a constant threat.
In the semifinal against Australia, Jadeja’s bowling was pivotal. He broke two crucial partnerships, preventing Australian batsmen from accelerating during the middle overs. First, he dismissed Marnus Labuschagne leg-before to break the threatening partnership involving Steve Smith and then had the better of the in-form Josh Inglis.
Jadeja has been pivotal in controlling the middle-overs, often bowling in tandem with Axar to strangle the opposition’s scoring.

Kuldeep Yadav: Variety of left-arm unorthodox
Kuldeep Yadav offers a rare skill in modern cricket – a left-arm wrist spinner. His deliveries are characterized by significant turn and deceptive flight, often bamboozling the batsmen. Kuldeep’s ability to spin the ball both ways without a discernible change in action makes him a potent weapon.
Kuldeep also adds a dimension of unpredictability to India’s bowling. His ability to pick up wickets in clusters has been crucial in breaking partnerships and shifting the momentum of the game in India’s favor.
During the group match against arch-rivals Pakistan, Kuldeep’s spell was a masterclass in wrist spin. He claimed three wickets with his variations, dismantling the Pakistani middle-order and restricting them to a modest total.
The wickets of Salman Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi with well-disguised googlies were a treat to watch, catching both batsmen off guard. His bowling style is unique, making him a wicket-taking option even if the pitch doesn’t offer much spin.
Varun Chakravarthy: Enigmatic mystery spinner
Varun Chakravarthy’s rise in international cricket has been nothing short of remarkable. Dubbed the ‘mystery spinner’ due to his unconventional grip and a repertoire of deliveries, including the carrom ball, googly, arm ball, and flipper, he adds an element of unpredictability to India’s spin attack.
His bowling style is difficult to read, as he can turn the ball both ways with varying speeds, making it hard for batsmen to anticipate his deliveries.
In his Champions Trophy debut against New Zealand, Varun delivered a match-winning performance, claiming a five-wicket haul and leading India to a 44-run victory. Varun’s inclusion in the playing XI after India’s first two matches added a fresh dimension to the spin attack.
The quartet offers a range of spin options, from orthodox left-arm spin to leg-spin and mystery spin. As a pack, they are adept at both controlling the run-rate and picking up wickets. While Axar and Jadeja provide control, Kuldeep and Varun are more aggressive, looking to take wickets.
As India prepares to face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final, the role of the four spinners will once again be under the spotlight.