According to spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, India’s spin department is in “transition” and the team management is evaluating a pool of young spinners who might advance to a higher level.
Young spinners like Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, and Zeeshan Ansari may get opportunities in the upcoming months in all three formats since Ravichandran Ashwin retired and Ravindra Jadeja was rested to manage his workload.
Left-arm spinner Dubey was handed an opportunity ahead of the more experienced Kuldeep Yadav in the first ODI against Afghanistan, and he returned with three wickets from five overs while conceding 47 runs.
“This is a transition time for spinners. This group of spinners, the selectors, Gautam (Gambhir) and everybody, they are having a look at all the spinners. Those who have the potential, those who have the right attributes, they will definitely be given a chance,” PTI quoted Bahutule as saying on Tuesday, on the eve of India’s second ODI against Afghanistan in Lucknow.
“That is what the process is. In a transition, you have to identify the right bowler. That is what the process is at the moment. I am sure we will get the right people on board,” he added.
Bahutule was specifically brought in to mentor the bunch of raw spinners after joining as the spin bowling coach prior to the Afghanistan series. The former leg-spinner has a wealth of experience coaching franchise, pathway, and domestic cricket.
“For me, every spinner is unique. I think Jadeja is very experienced. The way he has performed and the way he has contributed towards Indian cricket is phenomenal with the bat and the ball. I feel Harsh and other youngsters who are coming in and have been given the chances, will realise that it is a big shoes to fill up.
“They have the capabilities, they have the potential but I think the more they will play, the more they will settle down. Harsh is a player who definitely has that potential,” he said.
Bahutule praised Dubey specifically, highlighting the Vidarbha all-rounder’s promising potential.
“Harsh definitely has a good future as an all-rounder, he has done exceedingly well for Vidarbha and I think that is the reason why he has been given this opportunity.”
With 69 wickets, Dubey was the Ranji Trophy 2024–25 season’s top wicket-taker.
“With each game we learn. Last game also he was under pressure after that first over but the way he came back, I think Shubman (Gill) also used him very well, made the right changes at the right time, and gave him the ends which suited him.”
According to Bahutule, Dubey will have greater confidence as a result of these matches.
“I think he (Dubey) is one player for the future, he has got the skills, he has got a good temperament and I think he has proved it not only in domestic cricket but I think that one game which he got last time, he came back very strongly and did very well.
“The more experience he gets and definitely he will enhance his skill,” he said.
