Former left-arm spinner Dilip Doshi was critical of India's contemporary premier Test offie, Ravichandran Ashwin. Doshi feels Ashwin tries too many variations and should instead focus on his stock delivery.
Speaking during an online chat session with the Playwrite Foundation, the 72-year-old, who played 33 Tests and 15 ODIs, reiterated a view held by many and defended multiple times by the Indian off-spinner, who has taken 365 wickets at an average of 25.4 in 71 Tests so far.
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"Ashwin's records are fabulous in Indian conditions, but he needs to decide if he is an off-spinner or not. If he calls himself an off-spinner, he should keep bowling his stock balls," said Doshi.
Doshi, though, talked in praise of Ashwin's spin partner, Ravindra Jadeja, hailing the left-armer as India's No.1 tweaker. "I consider him best among the lot. I will play him all the time," he said.
Among India's first-choice limited-overs spin options these days, Doshi is more impressed with Kuldeep Yadav than the more-experienced Yuzvendra Chahal. The wrist-spin duo has been magnificent for India in the middle-overs in ODIs and T20Is.
"Kuldeep is a great talent," he said. "The more he bowls, the better he will become. About Chahal, I am not sure but there must be something good about him that's why he is in India's limited overs team. I will like to see if he is capable of bowling 30 overs in a first-class game."
Doshi also gave his views on why the much-vaunted Indian batting line-up has collapsed on occasions against opposition finger-spinners such as Moeen Ali, Nathan Lyon.
"The emergence of T20 cricket has changed the game completely. I believe every good club cricketer can perform in T20 cricket. For me, Test cricket is a broader canvas. I think it is the lack of application among the modern-day batsmen and that's the reason they struggle against quality spinners."
Lastly, Doshi offered a word of healthy advice for young spinners who wish to have great careers.
"I will encourage youngsters to keep tossing the ball and don't get disheartened of punishment," he said. "For batsmen, runs are like supply of oxygen, so just don't give them the easy runs, try and suffocate them."
