'They Are Not Spinning The Ball...': Harbhajan Slams Spinners For Lack Of Intent

'They Are Not Spinning The Ball...': Harbhajan Slams Spinners For Lack Of Intent

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Last Updated: March 22, 2025, 10:27 IST

With batting-friendly tracks becoming the norm in T20s, spinners have often been forced into a restrictive role, which has upset Harbhajan Singh.

Harbhajan Singh has spoken about spinners' inefficiency in IPL (Picture credit: X)

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has said that in T20s and in the Indian Premier League as well, tweakers are bowling like pacers, not attacking and do not show any intent of taking wickets, focusing more on restricting run flow.

With batting-friendly tracks becoming the norm in T20s, spinners have often been forced into a restrictive role.

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Harbhajan said that this trend is bad for the art of spin bowling and emphasised the requirement for bowlers to adopt a more attacking mindset.

“I am sorry to say in T20s or IPL, a lot of spinners are bowling like pacers. They are not spinning the ball. They are not attacking and don’t have the intent of taking wickets. Spinners need to be a little more brave, take chances," Harbhajan said while speaking on JioHotstar.

The restriction on saliva had been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic, but with conditions returning to normal, bowlers will now have the option to use saliva to maintain the ball.

“It is good that bowlers can use saliva again, it’s a good thing for bowlers. Soon we will see it in international cricket because it is easy to shine the ball with saliva. It brings swing for pacers and drift for spinners," Harbhajan said.

Besides the use of saliva, IPL 2025 will see two balls being used in the second innings of night matches to counter the dew factor.

“This move is also good. We have seen how dew can affect a game. It will be upto captains to decide when to take the second ball. I feel they will take when the ball will get wet and will be difficult to handle," Harbhajan said.

Among the emerging players this season, the former India spinner has high expectations from star India batter Riyan Parag, who is all set to lead the Rajasthan Royals for the first three games in the absence of regular captain Sanju Samson, who is recovering from a finger injury.

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Samson will play as a pure batter in these three games.

“Every year the IPL brings to the spotlight a lot of youngsters, but my eyes will be on Riyan Parag. Assam played well under his captaincy. He is a tremendous talent, I want to see him as a grown man," Harbhajan said.

First Published: March 22, 2025, 10:27 IST

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