Kapil Dev’s big call amid India’s spin woes: ‘BCCI should put its foot down’

Kapil Dev believes India’s struggles against spin are partly linked to the lack of domestic cricket played by established players.

Published on: Aug 12, 2026, 11:59:32 IST

Written by Aditya Maheshwari

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Legendary India captain Kapil Dev has advised Indian players to prioritise domestic cricket amid growing concerns over the young batters’ ability to handle spin. India’s Test team has faced a difficult phase in recent times, suffering home series defeats against New Zealand and South Africa, with opposition spinners exposing their struggles against the turning ball. The team has also entered a major transition phase following the Test retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin. The home series loss to South Africa further exposed the young Indian team’s struggles against spin, with the batters failing to counter the Proteas’ spinners.

Kapil Dev flags reason behind India’s spin struggles. (ANI video Grab)

Kapil believes India’s struggles against spin are partly linked to the lack of domestic cricket played by established players. The former captain feels regular multi-day matches would help the senior players sharpen their skills while also giving younger cricketers an opportunity to learn from them.

"Playing domestic cricket is very important. The reason why Indian teams struggle against spin is because the top players don’t play enough domestic cricket. That’s where the BCCI should put its foot down and make everyone play multi-day matches. The other aspect is that the younger generation will get to learn from the top players," Kapil said at the launch event of Bengaluru Blasters ahead of the inaugural JITO Premier League.

Kapil also pointed to India’s heavy workload in white-ball cricket as a possible reason behind their struggles against spin in Tests. He stressed that the longest format demands a different approach and believes the team needs to find a way to address the issue.

"In recent times, India has not been the best against spin bowling. They play too many T20s and ODIs. Test matches are a different ball game. I hope they can put their heads together," he added.

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Kapil tells BCCI to look after fast bowlers' workload

The legendary skipper also raised concerns about the workload on India’s fast bowlers, particularly with the increasing demands of T20 cricket. He feels players need to understand their physical limits, while the BCCI must carefully monitor how much cricket is being given to fast bowlers to reduce the risk of injuries.

“One should know about one’s own body. There is too much T20 cricket happening, so you have to be careful about the toll it takes on the body. Our body is actually not tuned to being a fast bowler. Our body is more tuned to being a batter. The BCCI should look into how much workload can be given to fast bowlers,” Kapil said here on Tuesday.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Maheshwari
Aditya Maheshwari is a Chief Content Producer and sports journalist with over seven years of experience covering the sports beat across formats and platforms. A cricket-first reporter by profession, he also follows football closely and considers it an integral part of his sporting journey. His work is shaped by a strong on-ground understanding of the game and an ability to translate match-day moments into clear, engaging stories that connect with readers across digital audiences. Over the years, he has developed a balanced approach that combines factual accuracy with narrative clarity, ensuring that both breaking developments and deeper insights are presented with context. Aditya has reported from the field at several major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Indian Premier League, and the Indian Super League. First-hand coverage of these events has strengthened his ability to read the pulse of high-pressure contests, whether through live reporting, post-match analysis, or long-form storytelling. Working closely around teams, venues, and evolving storylines has helped him develop a strong sense of timing and editorial judgment. While cricket remains his primary focus, Aditya regularly reports on football and keeps a close watch on other sports such as tennis, hockey, and badminton. His wide-ranging interest allows him to approach stories with broader perspective, understanding how different sporting ecosystems function and evolve. Comfortable in fast-paced digital newsrooms, Aditya is well-versed in modern sports coverage, from live blogs and real-time updates to in-depth analysis and audience-focused storytelling. He believes in keeping sports writing simple, accurate, and grounded, with emphasis on clarity over complexity. At the core of his work lies a commitment to credible reporting and telling stories that go beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, highlighting the people, preparation, and pressure behind every performance.Read More

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