Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his concerns regarding the current crop of spinners in the Indian Premier League (IPL), asserting that they exhibit a lack of aggression and are overly preoccupied with containment rather than actively seeking wickets.

As batting-friendly pitches have become prevalent in T20 cricket, spin bowlers often find themselves relegated to a defensive role. Even a top-tier spinner like Rashid Khan, widely regarded as one of the finest in the white-ball format, faced challenges in consistently taking wickets during the last season.

Harbhajan argues that this trend is harmful to the craft of spin bowling and stresses the importance of adopting a more aggressive approach.

“I regret to say that in T20s or the IPL, many spinners are bowling like fast bowlers. They are not imparting spin to the ball. They lack the intent to take wickets and are not being aggressive. Spinners need to be bolder, take risks, and focus on spinning the ball, flighting it, and being actively involved in the game,” Harbhajan stated, as reported by India Today.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has lifted the long-standing prohibition on the use of saliva to shine the ball ahead of the new season. This restriction, which had been in effect since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, has been removed as conditions have returned to normal, allowing bowlers the option to use saliva for ball maintenance.

Harbhajan welcomed this decision, believing it will benefit both fast bowlers and spinners alike.

“It is positive that bowlers can use saliva again; it is advantageous for them. We will soon see this in international cricket, as using saliva makes it easier to shine the ball. It enhances swing for fast bowlers and drift for spinners,” he remarked.

Harbhajan on Riyan Parag and other youngsters

In the context of IPL 2025, Harbhajan Singh has expressed significant expectations for Riyan Parag, who will lead the Rajasthan Royals in the first three matches while regular captain Sanju Samson recovers from a finger injury.

"Each year, the IPL showcases numerous young talents, but my focus will be on Riyan Parag. Assam performed admirably under his leadership. He possesses remarkable talent, and I am eager to see his development," Harbhajan remarked.

In addition to Parag, Harbhajan is also interested in monitoring the performances of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Abhishek Sharma, whom he considers to be the future stars of Indian cricket. He further highlighted Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakravarthy as bowlers to keep an eye on during IPL 2025.

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