As India prepare for a two Test series in Sri Lanka, one of the country’s greatest cricketers has delivered a blunt warning about the team’s biggest weakness. Former captain Kapil Dev believes India’s repeated struggles against spin bowling are a direct consequence of a packed white ball schedule, and he wants the BCCI to force top players back into domestic red ball cricket.
The numbers behind the concern
India’s problems against spin have become a major talking point after a painful run in home Tests. The team suffered a crushing 0-3 series defeat to New Zealand at home, then followed it up with a 0-2 loss to South Africa, again on home soil. In both series, Indian batters repeatedly struggled to negotiate quality spin.
Now, with the first Test against Sri Lanka starting in Galle on August 15 on conditions expected to be spin friendly, that weakness will come under the microscope once again.
Kapil’s diagnosis
The 1983 World Cup winning captain was in Bengaluru to launch the Bengaluru Blasters team ahead of the inaugural JITO Premier League, but his message was firmly about Test cricket.
“India recently have not been at their best against spin bowling because they play too many T20s and One Dayers. Test cricket is a different ball game, but I hope they can put their head together and play better in Sri Lanka,” Kapil said.
His solution is straightforward: make the top players return to domestic cricket.
“Playing domestic cricket is very important. The reason why Indian teams struggle against spin is that the top players don’t play enough domestic cricket. That is where the BCCI should put its foot down and make everyone play three day and four day matches,” he added.
A workload warning for pacers
Kapil, one of the finest fast bowlers India has ever produced, also sounded a note of caution about the physical toll on bowlers.
“There is too much T20 and ODI cricket happening, so you have to be careful about the toll it takes on the body. Our body is actually not tuned to being a fast bowler. The BCCI should look into how much workload to give fast bowlers,” said the 67 year old.
The Galle test ahead
The timing of Kapil’s comments is significant. Sri Lanka has traditionally offered conditions where spinners become a major factor as matches progress, and India arrive without Jasprit Bumrah, who was ruled out of the series through injury.
Captain Shubman Gill, vice captain KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel will be expected to shoulder the batting responsibility. For this group, the challenge will not simply be about scoring runs, but about showing the patience, footwork and shot selection needed to neutralise spin over long periods.
India’s spin options include Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain, while Sri Lanka can call on Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis and Keshara Nuwantha. The battle between the two sets of spinners could well decide the series.
Kapil’s words are a reminder that, for all India’s talent, the ability to play spin remains the defining test of this side as it continues its transition under Gill’s leadership.