India’s preparations for the second Check in opposition to South Africa in Guwahati have taken an intriguing flip. Reeling from a 30-run defeat in Kolkata, the place South Africa’s spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj dismantled them on a turning observe, India have tapped into an unconventional but revolutionary useful resource — Bengal’s ambidextrous spinner Kaushik Maity. The transfer indicators India’s intent to battle hearth with hearth as they brace for an additional spin-heavy problem on the Barsapara Stadium.
A Daring Response to South Africa’s Dominant Spin Present
The opening Check at Eden Gardens uncovered a obvious vulnerability in India’s batting — their incapacity to barter high quality spin below strain. Harmer and Maharaj mixed brilliantly, bowling out India for a mere 93, their lowest fourth-innings whole at dwelling. The loss shook the group’s confidence and demanded a recent tactical strategy.
As experiences surfaced that the Guwahati pitch is predicted to supply flip — albeit with extra tempo and bounce as a consequence of its red-soil composition — India determined to simulate the precise threats they failed in opposition to. That is the place Kaushik Maity, a uncommon ambidextrous spinner who can change arms seamlessly, entered the image.
Kaushik Maity: The Shock Weapon India Wanted
Maity, simply 26 and nonetheless comparatively unknown past home circles, was roped in for a specialised match-simulation session throughout an non-compulsory coaching day. What he supplied India was not simply selection, however accuracy that mimics each Harmer’s off-spin and Maharaj’s left-arm spin in a single session.
Within the nets, Maity bowled:
Off-breaks to left-handers like Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Devdutt Padikkal
Left-arm spin to right-handers corresponding to Dhruv Jurel
Such dual-skill versatility is an enormous asset in pre-game preparation. Maity has modest home expertise — eight Listing A and three T20 matches, with 11 wickets together with a standout spell in opposition to Punjab within the 2023 Vijay Hazare Trophy — however what impressed the Indian think-tank was his composure and pure adaptability.
A Dream Come True —And a Large Studying Curve
For Maity, the expertise was nothing in need of a profession milestone.
“It was my first time on the India nets… it was a dream come true to bowl to Jaddu bhai,” Maity mentioned, talking with the thrill of a cricketer who understands the magnitude of such a uncommon alternative.
He revealed that neither head coach Gautam Gambhir nor bowling coach Morne Morkel gave him particular directions — they merely allowed him to function freely, trusting his pure variations. The session doubled as a studying expertise when Ravindra Jadeja himself stepped in with technical recommendation.
Jadeja, after dealing with Maity, recommended he push his size again by a meter (from 4–5m to round 6–7m) and enhance his tempo by means of the air — delicate enhancements that may make a distinction at elite ranges.
Guwahati Pitch Set to Check India Once more
If Kolkata uncovered India’s spin struggles, Guwahati will look at whether or not the teachings have been realized. A supply concerned within the pitch preparation confirmed that the red-soil observe is predicted to show, however with extra tempo and bounce — situations which will assist strokeplay but in addition punish errors.
India demanded turning tracks this dwelling season, and they’re set to get precisely that. The query now could be whether or not the batters can discover solutions in time.