Kolkata: In today's T20 cricket, where matchups are everything, bowlers need to stay one step ahead of the batters. This is no small feat, especially considering how aggressive batting has become. Players are prioritizing strike rates over total runs and are quick to convert starts into big scores, raising the average scores each season. The middle overs are no longer about settling in, and teams are frequently using left-right batting combinations as a quick fix for various challenges.

To tackle this surge in batting aggression, fast bowlers are getting creative with their variations, and spinners are keeping pace. While changing speeds can be tricky for batters, maintaining the right lengths is equally crucial. Kuldeep Yadav exemplifies this well. Despite the common critique that modern spinners struggle to take wickets, Yadav stands out. He ranks second in the wicket-takers list with 11 dismissals, and his economy rates are impressive against both left-handed (6.9) and right-handed (5.5) batters in this IPL. His dot ball percentages are also noteworthy, sitting at 44.4% for right-handers and 37% for left-handers.

Just ahead of Yadav is Noor Ahmad, another left-arm wrist spinner, who boasts an economy of 4.7 and a dot ball percentage of 47.3% against left-handed batters, though those numbers nearly double against right-handers. This difference can be attributed to two main factors: Ahmad's effective googly and the Chennai pitch, which offers more turn than others. His success largely stems from his ability to rush batters, although he can also concede runs if they make solid contact. Yadav, known for his slower deliveries early in his career, has since added more speed to his game. While this may have reduced his turn, it has also given batters less time to react.

Yadav's knack for hitting the right lengths has made him not just economical but also effective, achieving an impressive dismissal rate of one wicket every 12.8 balls against right-handed batsmen and every 13.5 balls against left-handers in this IPL season. He mentioned earlier this month, “Length is crucial, and since this is my fourth year with DC, my approach hasn’t changed. After playing so many matches, you grow and learn what your strengths are. For me, spinning the ball is key, so I keep it simple and focus on my length.”

Varun Chakravarthy shares a similar style, but with a slight twist—he's taken all 10 of his wickets against right-handed batsmen. This doesn’t mean left-handed batsmen have an easy time facing him, even though KKR seems to be managing his matchups (he's bowled 126 balls to right-handers compared to just 36 to left-handers). What stands out is Chakravarthy's economy rate—6.4 against right-handers and 5 against left-handers—highlighting his strategy to restrict runs when wickets aren’t falling.

The lengths of Chakravarthy's deliveries are quite similar to Yadav’s. One of his signature moves is the ball that sharply turns into right-handed batters, much like a googly. Chakravarthy explained the surprise factor it brings for both right- and left-handed batters. “The ball can move in three directions: left, right, or straight,” he mentioned at Eden Gardens last month. “The way I select and sequence those deliveries is where the tactical aspect of the game comes into play, and that’s what I’m focusing on.”

Not everyone can master this technique, but even getting close can be effective these days. The strategy of making the ball move away remains powerful, as shown by left-arm bowler Krunal Pandya, who has a solid dismissal rate of 14.4 balls against right-handers. However, his average (23.8) and economy rate (9.9) suggest he may not be the best fit for every situation. Similarly, overseas spinner Narine faces a notable difference in his stats, as more left-handed batters attempt to hit him after shifting their weight forward. This results in an economy of 9 against left-handers, compared to 6.5 against right-handers.

Then there's Digvesh Rathi, who seems naturally inclined to bowl at a good length. The outcome? He boasts impressive economy and dot ball percentages—6.5 and 36.7% against left-handers, and 7.4 and 28.4% against right-handers. While his dismissal rate against left-handed batters (25.6) could use some improvement compared to 15.3 against right-handers, he’s already taken the wicket of his idol Narine, which is a significant achievement for him.

Read Also: Ashish Nehra Names Ravindra Jadeja the Best Fielder, Even Ahead of Jonty Rhodes: “If He’s Eating Something Different, He Should Share”

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