Even Without Rashid, Afghanistan Have the Weapons to Test India

Steve O’Keefe, Ajaz Patel, Lasith Embuldeniya, Todd Murphy, Matthew Kuhnemann, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir. What do these names have in common, apart from the fact that they are all spinners? Each of them made a significant impact on their maiden Test tour of India.

For decades, India has been viewed as the ultimate examination for visiting spinners. The dusty surfaces, relentless scrutiny and the challenge of outsmarting batters raised on spin have often proved overwhelming, even for established names. History is littered with examples of accomplished spinners who needed time to decode the Indian puzzle.

Nathan Lyon, Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer are among the finest spinners their countries have produced in the modern era. Yet, none enjoyed a particularly memorable introduction to Test cricket in India. What has changed in recent years, however, is the growing number of visiting spinners who have hit the ground running. Some arrived with limited first-class experience and little knowledge of Indian conditions, yet still managed to trouble India’s batting line-up.

The writing is on the wall. India are struggling against spin. Their dominance in home conditions appears to be on the decline, as opponents have begun exposing a weakness that is becoming increasingly evident. This was seen during the last two home seasons, first against New Zealand and then against South Africa. Preparing turning pitches has, at times, backfired on India.

There was a time when India were regarded as one of the best teams in the world against spin bowling. That is no longer the case. The numbers tell the story. A side that averaged 45.04 against spin in the 2010s is averaging below 35 in the 2020s.

As a result, India are no longer an invincible force at home. For visiting teams, this presents an ideal opportunity to spin their way to a Test victory, particularly at a time when India are in transition and several batters appear vulnerable against the turning ball.

Although Afghanistan will be without their premier spinner Rashid Khan, the trio of Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangyal Kharoti and Qais Ahmad could still pose a serious threat. Qais is the most experienced of the three, with two Test caps to his name. Sharafuddin has played only one Test, while the young Nangyal is yet to make his debut in the longest format. Afghanistan’s players have had limited exposure to red-ball cricket, with the nation having played only 11 Tests since gaining Full Member status in 2017.

Even so, all three present different challenges. If the Mullanpur pitch offers assistance, Sharafuddin could take the new ball, as he is the spinner who bowls with the greatest control. The left-armer is known for his accuracy and ability to deliver long spells. Qais, meanwhile, has been inconsistent with his lines during his brief Test career. He has a tendency to bowl loose deliveries in between good balls. Indian batters may find him easier to attack, but as a leg-spinner he remains a potential match-winner and a dark horse for Afghanistan.

Nangyal is a promising talent who can contribute with both bat and ball. Although the 22-year-old is yet to play Test cricket, he has taken 31 wickets in 10 first-class matches. With the bat, he averages 22.43. Given India’s recent struggles against left-arm spin, there may be a temptation to field both Sharafuddin and Nangyal, although that decision will depend heavily on the pitch conditions.

One factor that could work against Afghanistan’s talented spinners is their lack of experience and unfamiliarity with conditions in Mullanpur. However, the element of surprise they bring cannot be discounted, as none of the current Indian Test players have faced this new-look Afghanistan spin attack in red-ball cricket.

The post Even Without Rashid, Afghanistan Have the Weapons to Test India appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.