Once upon a time, touring teams arrived in India with two certainties: oppressive heat and inevitable spin suffocation. The middle overs were India’s private hunting ground, a place where matches quietly tilted, wickets fell in clusters, and visiting batters learned humility.
The second ODI against New Zealand in Rajkot wasn’t just a bad day at the office; it was a warning flare. Michael Bracewell and debutant Jayden Lennox, two finger spinners operating without mystique or menace, dictated the middle overs like seasoned subcontinent assassins. Their combined figures of 2 for 76 in 20 overs don’t scream domination, but context does.
The most expensive bowling spell of Kuldeep Yadav‘s career (82 runs), was his third, with Ravindra Jadeja going without a single wicket and conceding 44 runs from eight deliveries as Daryl Mitchell and Will Young took turns to reach their fifty at an ease, they turned the weak balls to four-balls by turning them into boundaries, and were able to take the momentum away from India, in what was the control-overs for India.
When Middle Overs Stop Biting
India’s ODI blueprint has long relied on one non-negotiable principle: choke the game between overs 15 and 40. For years, wrist spin was the weapon, not just economical, but predatory.
That edge has dulled. Kuldeep Yadav’s increased workload across formats has flattened his threat. Ravindra Jadeja, once a relentless pressure-builder, has drifted into containment mode without the compensating wickets. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar offer control, but control without wickets is defensive cricket, not dominance.
India’s most destructive ODI middle overs coincided with Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal bowling in tandem, a pairing built on variation, courage, and mutual amplification. The current setup lacks that attacking symmetry.
Balance Has Turned Into Compromise
Modern ODI cricket demands depth batting till No.8 or No.9 and at least three spin options. India has tried to satisfy both by stacking spin all-rounders around one specialist. The problem? The returns no longer justify the structure.
Harshit Rana’s rapid development with bat and ball offers a tactical unlock. If he can own the No.8 role, India gains flexibility to prioritize wicket-taking over redundant batting insurance. That equation brings uncomfortable truths to the surface.
Axar Patel’s left arm angle and batting ability at #5 make him invaluable whenever he is fit. There is then Ravindra Jadeja and his steadily dwindling ODI presence. Jadeja has taken just one ODI wicket in his past 5 ODIs; his role as an ODI finisher has been diminishing of late, and the lack of opportunity for him to be used as a strike rotator in the middle order creates a bleak picture.
A Mystery Spinner Left Unused
Varun Chakaravarthy has had an ODI career marked by inconsistent momentum. He started well in his 2025 England ODI debut, excelled in his 2025 Champions Trophy, and then there were the numbers to back it up with 10 wickets at an average of 19, and only giving away 50+ runs per over on one occasion from the four games he played.
However, before all this, he took charge of the 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy as well, taking 18 wickets in six games elite List A wicket-taking record for any player, regardless of how they have taken them.
Yet, opportunity dried up. A long ODI gap, followed by a tour of Australia where specialist spinners were surplus to requirements, stalled his run. By the time ODIs resumed against South Africa and New Zealand, he was watching from the outside.
Key Takeaway
India’s middle-overs problem isn’t spin quality, it’s the fear of bold selection.
FAQs
1. What caused India’s ODI spin decline?
Reduced wicket-taking impact and overreliance on defensive spin options.
2. Why is Varun Chakaravarthy crucial now?
He offers proven middle-over wickets in subcontinent conditions, something India currently lacks.
3. How can India fix the balance issue?
By backing Harshit Rana’s all-round growth and prioritizing specialist wicket-takers over surplus batting depth.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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