The performance of Team India’s batsmen in the Test series against New Zealand was quite disappointing. The batsmen struggled against spin throughout the series and could not perform well even against the fast bowlers. India’s batting line-up faltered badly on the spinning pitches of Pune and Mumbai and the team scored 156,245, 263 and 121.

Meanwhile, before the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has revealed some techniques to help Indian players improve their game.

Navjot Singh Sidhu gave these suggestions to counter spin

Navjot Singh Sidhu’s old advice regarding playing spin has resurfaced, which is going viral on social media. He further added to this with a four-point “playbook” for the Indian batsmen while tweeting on social media on November 6.

Navjot Singh Sidhu first advised to “move forward often to confuse the spinner’s mind, it will force him to guess”. He suggests that by moving forward on the pitch, batsmen can disrupt the bowler’s rhythm and foil his plans. His second point is “Point of No Return” – the point of the bowler’s delivery. “Make sure you move when it is at the point of no return (point of delivery). “It comes from instinct and hours of practice.”

Playing spin on turning tracks – 1 stepping out often to the spinner to clutter his mind, keep him guessing…. 2 ensure that you step out when he is at a point of no return (point of delivery), it comes with instinct and hours of practice 3 watch his wrist like a hawk till the…

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) November 6, 2024

Sidhu then continued his suggestion by asking the batsmen to look closely at their hands before throwing the ball. “Keep an eye on your wrist like a hawk till the end to code the delivery,” he said, adding that this will help batsmen understand which way the ball will turn and adjust their reaction accordingly. Lastly, Sidhu advised to have a little forward movement so that both front foot and back foot are ready to explore the shot.

“A small initial forward movement allows you to adjust to playing the ball late and moving back and forth,” he explained, adding that committing too early can put the batsman in a precarious position. “Swoop or commit, and you are at the mercy of the bowler – like a dying duck in a storm,” he warned.