'The problem in India is...': Muralitharan highlights spinners' weak point

NEW DELHI: Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan, also serving as a strategic coach for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, has expressed concern over the diminishing art of spin bowling among young Indian spinners.
He believes that these bowlers are losing the ability to generate drift in the air and turn off the pitch, which has resulted in a trend of spinners bowling quicker and straighter, prompting batsmen to attack them more aggressively.
"The problem in India is that most spinners are not spinning the ball because they are bowling a little quicker. If there is no spin, there is no deviation (drift)," said Muralitharan during the pre-match press conference ahead of SRH's Sunday meet against defending champion Chennai Super Kings.
"The batters face throwdowns at the nets, and most of the balls come in straight. So, the batters have made up their mind accordingly, and they look to hit it. But, when the ball deviates, the batters' brains don't know how to react. So, the spinners need to learn how to spin the ball to have a better chance."
CSK suffered two consecutive defeats and will be eager to secure a win at home, while SRH also faced a loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their last match.
Murali anticipates another high-scoring contest ahead and expects both teams to focus on playing a quality brand of cricket. Dew was a significant factor in CSK's recent home fixture, influencing conditions on the field.
"It's going to be a high-scoring contest because the game has changed and scored over 200 being chased. The coaches and players are also using the Impact Player rule very well," he reckoned.
Murali said if Chepauk is on drier side then there will be turn on offer.
"Haven't seen the wicket yet. If it's dry, there's more chance for spin, and it will be a different ball game.
"It is an ever-changing deal. This pitch has a huge bearing on it, and the teams have been preparing rather flat wickets. Teams are also looking into strike rates a lot as they want to maximize the 120 deliveries available."
Murali said he is happy with the brand of cricket that his team is playing in this edition.
"We are looking to play a particular brand of cricket. We have lost a couple of games along the way, but despite the results, if the team plays according to the style of cricket we want to, the coaches will be happy.
"A team can't win all the games, and there are going to be defeats. If we can win 60% of our games, we have a great chance to make the playoffs."
IPL 2024 has seen 200-plus total being posted quite frequently, while some of them are also being chased down.
With the Impact Player rule having made a significant impact this season compared to the last one, Murali felt that the bowlers, too, will come up with a counter-attack plan shortly.
"For any new rule, it takes one or two years to fully understand it. This year, the teams have adapted to the Impact Player rule well, resulting in an extra 20-30 runs," he explained.
"It's more advantageous for the batter than the bowler because they are not afraid to get out, as they have an extra man to make up for it.
"Also this year, the wickets have been very flat, and the outfields are very fast, which has also been resulting in those extra runs. As a result, once a good total of 170-180 is now 220-230.
"But, the bowlers will come up with something. We don't know when and what, but they will as they won't stand back and accept it as the batters' game."
While SRH has used five pacers in the event so far, Umran Malik is yet to be introduced this season.
When asked about him, Murali admitted that the batters had gotten used to his raw pace and that he had been working on counter-attacking them.
"Umran is doing well. He is still young and is not that experienced. He had a great season with us when nobody knew him. When bowlers come in fresh to bowl at that pace, it is a challenge for the batters before they get used to it. That's what happened to him.
"He has to change his bowling and learn how to counter-attack them, and that's what he is learning and training with us. When he is ready, he will have his chances," he signed off.
(With PTI inputs)