Ranji Trophy Spinners : The Aussies were handed a humbling defeat in the first Test match against India, getting beaten by an innings and 132 runs at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. The Australian batters couldn’t seem to handle the Indian spinners, as evidenced by their poor scores of 177 and 91 in their first and second innings, respectively. Meanwhile, the Indian side was at ease on the wicket, posting a total of 400 runs, with Skipper Rohit Sharma scoring a fantastic century (120), and Ravindra Jadeja (70) and Axar Patel (84) contributing with half-centuries.
In light of this deflating loss, Australia is in dire need of enforcers with the ball who can turn the tides and provide crucial breakthroughs. This article takes a closer look at three Ranji Trophy spinners who could start for the Australian Test team.
1. Kumar Kartikeya Date- Left-Arm Spinner from Madhya Pradesh
Kumar Kartikeya, a young left-arm spinner from Madhya Pradesh, has been at the forefront of the team in recent years. He played a crucial role in MP’s maiden Ranji Trophy win last year, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker with 32 scalps. The Mumbai Indians cricketer has continued his stellar form this year, picking up 33 wickets in nine matches with an average of just over 20.
What sets Kartikeya apart is his ability to bowl with the new ball. Given India’s right-handed batters, Kartikeya could be a valuable addition to the Australian side, owing to his ability to take the ball away.
2. Karsh Kothari- Left-Arm Spinner from Mumbai
Karsh Kothari, a Mumbai cricketer, has been a consistent performer on the domestic circuit in recent years. He was the highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy last year, taking 45 wickets in six games with an average of 16.75. Kothari has been equally impressive in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy, picking up 46 wickets in seven matches, with a best bowling figure of 7/98.
His ability to extract spin and bounce off the wicket makes him a wicket-taking threat, and he is also a decent option with the bat, with 12 half-centuries to his name in List A cricket.
ALSO READ
The Quest for a Spot in the Playing XI: When Players Prioritize the Team over Self
Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh: Comparing Two of India’s Greatest Spin Bowlers
Ind vs Aus Test: The Unbeatable Home Record- India’s Spin Attack
3 Records Ravichandran Ashwin Broke in India vs Australia Test
3. Shreyas Gopal- Leg-Spinner from Karnataka
Shreyas Gopal, a leg-spinner by trade, is a valuable player for any team he represents. He excels in bowling, batting, and fielding, both inside and outside the 30-yard circle. The heart of the Karnataka side for the past few years, Gopal has 218 scalps to his name from 76 first-class games.
With Australia lacking quality leg-spinners, Gopal could be a handy option for the Aussies with the old ball. He is also a decent batsman, having over 3000 runs under his belt.
In conclusion, these three Ranji Trophy spinners could prove to be valuable additions to the Australian Test team. They bring a unique skillset to the table and could help turn the tides in future matches. It’ll be interesting to see if any of these players get the opportunity to represent their country on the international stage.