Indian cricket fans are still reeling from the heavy defeat against South Africa in Guwahati. The loss didn’t just end a Test, it ended a 25-year streak of keeping South Africa from winning a series on the Indian soil. For a team once known for its dominance at home, this collapse has been difficult for many to digest.
While the captain and coach tried to protect the squad, voices outside the dressing room have been far more blunt. Among them is former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who didn’t hold back while discussing what went wrong. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, he spoke openly about how disappointing India’s batting has become, describing it with the term, “one of the poorest spin-playing nations”.
He pointed out that India’s batters struggled with basic techniques, especially against spin. Ashwin explained that players from other teams have worked hard on skills like sweeping to counter turning pitches. He mentioned that in past series, even the opposition used the sweep as a defensive tool, switching between blocking and sweeping to build confidence and pressure. According to him, India’s batters simply aren’t adapting in the same way.
R Ashwin also said that when a team is bowled out cheaply, the bowlers are left with very little to work on. A total around 250 or more could allow spinners to apply pressure but scores in the 140-160 range leave almost no room for strategic control. He even spoke about how some batters from other teams survived long spells despite having weaknesses, simply because they trusted their defence.
He questioned how many Indian batters showed solid technique against South Africa’s spinners, pointing especially to the struggle against the experienced Harmer. Ashwin believes that too often, attacking shots are used to cover up technical flaws, which only creates bigger problems. In his view, great batting begins with strong defence and India’s biggest issue right now is the lack of attention to that foundation.
His words reflect the frustration many fans feel but they also highlight a deeper concern — that India, once known for producing some of the world’s best players of spin, is now slipping behind other nations in this very skill.
Ashwin’s criticism may be harsh but it echoes a sentiment shared by many, that it’s time for honest conversations, hard work and a return to the basics if India wants to reclaim its strength at home.
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