Humor: Five tricks to tackle Indian spinners

The Indian heat and Indian spinners have always tormented visiting teams. Whether it is a Test match, One-day International or a T20 game, foreign players are often caught in the Indian spinner’s web. Pundits predicted that spinners will be thrown out of the game with the rise of T20 Leagues, but the spinners have turned this prediction on its head and have become more lethal in the shorter format. Sometimes, they are handed the responsibility of opening the bowling attack as well! Foreign players will have to learn the following five tricks to tackle Indian spinners.

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#1 Play Dandiya

Dandiya is a traditional Indian dance form where people huddle up and sway to songs. It requires nimble footwork and attention to detail when it comes to moving to the beats of the song. Playing dandiya involves two sticks which are similar to drumsticks, they are used as props while dancing. It also keeps the wrist movement going.

You might have heard commentators say, '‘He danced down the pitch and hit it outside the park’'. Learning this dance form will help the batsmen with their footwork. Using wrists is extremely important while playing the flick shot, thus that technique can also be improved due to dandiya sticks.

#2 Rock, Paper, Scissors

Many players might have played this game during their childhood. Rock, Paper, Scissors is a game which involves keeping a close eye on the opponent’s hand. You have to make your move accordingly. It involves being extremely agile.

Being quick and attentive are qualities that are associated with playing the spinners better. Playing this game will help in increasing focus and will lead to watching the bowler’s bowling hand closely to decipher whether the ball is going to be a regular spinner, dusra, straighter one, googly, etc.

#3 Drive in Mumbai’s traffic

If you have ever driven a car in Mumbai, you will be well aware of the challenges involved in moving from point A to point B. It involves patience of the highest order. You have to motivate yourself because the situation might be too daunting. Vehicles don’t move for a long while similar to the scoreboard that seems to get stuck in Test matches when the spinners bowl maidens on the trot.

A rickshaw or a pedestrian can land in front of you from anywhere on Mumbai’s roads. Driving in Mumbai’s traffic will help you develop a peripheral vision to detect such random movement of people. Increased peripheral vision will help batsmen know where the fielders are so they can hit the ball in the gaps and get runs.

#4 Learn Hindi

Dhoni keeps advising the spinners all the time. The television audience already knows what the spinner is going to bowl because the stump microphone catches Dhoni’s golden words. Only if batsmen knew what he spoke!

If players learn Hindi, they will understand each and every word that Dhoni says and they will know in advance what the bowler is going to bowl and where is he going to bowl. There is catch though. Learning Hindi will also expose the batsmen to Virat Kohli’s colorful language. Players might not want to hear some of the Hindi words Virat Kohli uses on the field.

#5 Himalayan Trek

Trekking in the Himalayas is not a simple task. It involves a lot of stamina and a pair strong legs. The same is needed to run between the wickets. Foreign players need to visit the mountains, breathe in fresh air and work out their legs. Some yoga also might come handy.

Meditation is also useful. You often have to be in the zone when there are vicious turners hurled at you as a batsman on a crumbling fifth-day wicket. As it is said, mountains might give you the answers you seek.