India have a number of spin options at their disposal, but they are yet to settle in on their first-choice spinners. We take a look at the options available, and who sits where in the pecking order.
Automatic choices
Ravindra Jadeja
Injured, but undroppable, Jadeja warrants a place in the first-choice ODI XI because of his all-round skills. The left-hander has played nine ODIs since the beginning of 2020, picking up seven wickets at an economy rate of 5.36. He has a batting average of 55.75 in that period, making 223 runs in seven innings and as well as being one of the most athletic fielders on the planet, he balances out the XI perfectly, which makes him one of the first names on the team sheet.
Frontrunners
Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar
Chahal has had an indifferent time in ODI cricket over the past year. He was not selected for the ODIs against England, had a reasonable but unspectacular series against Sri Lanka before looking listless in the recent South Africa series. But he has been backed and is regarded as the first-choice spinner, and India will hope he can go back to his lethal ways.
Washington Sundar has struggled with injuries recently and played his only ODI in 2017, but his batting gives him an edge, helping him earn a place in the squad for the upcoming series against West Indies.
In the mix
R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav
R Ashwin was a surprise call-up for the T20 World Cup last year, and recently played the ODI series against South Africa, but he failed to impress, picking up one wicket across two ODIs.
Axar Patel, a left-arm spinner, has been an underrated IPL performer in recent years but India might not be eager to field both Jadeja and Axar together, with the latter likely to get his chances only when Jadeja is unavailable.
Ravi Bishnoi earned a maiden ODI call-up for the series against West Indies after impactful performances in the IPL, picking up 24 wickets in 23 games at an economy rate of 6.95. The youngster ended with 17 wickets in the Under-19 World Cup in 2020, and he remains a player to watch out for.
Kuldeep Yadav’s career has been on a rollercoaster in recent seasons. Once touted as the next big thing, he has struggled to make the XI after uninspired showings since the beginning of 2020. He averages 72.25 in this period, the worst among India spinners with at least three wickets in ODIs, and has been expensive, but has been given another chance against West Indies.
Outsiders
Rahul Chahar, Krunal Pandya, Jayant Yadav
Krunal Pandya picked up two wickets in the five games he played last year at an average of 111.50. With below-par performances in the IPL with both bat and ball in the last two seasons – he has scored 252 runs in 29 matches with a high score of 39 and has picked up 11 wickets – the journey back into the XI seems a long one.
Rahul Chahar played a lone ODI last year, and though he picked up three wickets, his stock has fallen after an indifferent IPL, with that form continuing in T20Is as well.
Jayant Yadav was recently added to the ODI squad for the series against South Africa and played the last match in place of Ashwin. However, if all players are fit and ready for selection, Jayant is unlikely to be in the fray.
