With no Ashwin & no finger spinner, has India missed a trick?

vashuotwal

Lately, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and the rest of the Pakistani team have encountered challenges against off-spin bowlers, a weakness India might not capitalize on. Although historically, both Indian and Pakistani batsmen have handled spin well, Pakistan's recent struggles against off-spin have been noticeable. Off-spinners like Michael Bracewell, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi have thrived against Pakistan's batting lineup.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan's opening pair, have faced difficulties against off-spinners, leading to lowered run rates. Their approach often involves playing cautiously against spinners. Between 2020 and 2022, Babar scored 221 runs against off-spinners at an average of 44.2 but was dismissed five times. Rizwan managed 222 runs at an average of 55.5 but was dismissed four times. In 2023 alone, Babar was dismissed thrice, while Rizwan fell once. Against Afghanistan, Mujeeb and Nabi consistently troubled them in a recent series.

Additionally, the top order with left-handers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq tends to struggle against off-spinners, who exploit the ball turning away. Imam fell to finger spinners twice in the Afghanistan series and Bracewell posed challenges during New Zealand's tour earlier this year.
In the middle order, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan have also not showcased remarkable performances. Iftikhar's strike rate against off-spinners from 2020 to July 2023 was 83, while Shadab, with a better strike rate of over 150, was dismissed four times.

Even the left-handed Mohammad Nawaz, in the lower middle order, struggled with a strike rate just above 80 against off-spinners. India missed an opportunity by not selecting a frontline off-spinner like R Ashwin, known for variations like the doosra and carrom ball, which could challenge batsmen.
As of now, India won't exploit this weakness due to the absence of an off-spinning option. The possibility of Tilak Varma contributing with his right-arm off-breaks remains, though he's not a frontline spinner. Time will reveal whether this aspect affects the game's outcome, but currently, India's chances to exploit this particular weakness seem limited.