Five reasons why coach Anil Kumble has been a positive influence on Indian cricket

#2 Spinners are challenged to perform on truer pitches

India’s spin mainstays did not quite get favorable pitches in the England series

Despite their 3-0 triumph which helped put an end to South Africa’s nine-year unbeaten away series streak, the murmurs surrounding the nature of pitches did not abate. Rightly so as those surfaces in Mohali and Nagpur had spun square from the opening day itself.

Though such bowler-friendly conditions help bolster statistics, they do not allow players to evolve into all-round performers. Likewise, the theory holds true for seamers making merry on grassy pitches as well.

While the New Zealand series included a seam-friendly surface amidst a couple of moderately turning tracks, the highly anticipated series against England served up good batting pitches.

Kumble himself acknowledged the need to keep pushing bowlers to find a way to succeed on flat tracks in order to develop the team into a formidable unit across different conditions.