Simon Harmer of South Africa celebrates a wicket at Eden Gardens in the 1st Test vs India. (Express Photo | Partha Paul)When Kagiso Rabada was asked by the Cricket South Africa social media team post the Kolkata win, he explained one crucial change that has churned in South African cricket, though it was inevitable given the depth of their talent. “No matter who sits out, we can find a way to win,” Rabada had said, after missing out due to injury.
But crucial for the Proteas had been another tweak in how they approached bowling. SA bowling has always been top notch, but tended to comprise of pace all-rounders. That trend continues somewhat with Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen. But heartening for SA international mystery spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has been the team’s growing trust in two specialist spinners.
This time it was Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, with Senuran Muthusamy in the wings, as the visitors registered their first Test win over India in India, after 15 years. “Wowwwwwwwwwwww!!!!! 🇿🇦🔥 We’ve suffered for so many years in test cricket in India. This is massive!” Shamsi said of all the times he’s endured losses in Test matches on Indian soil.
Wowwwwwwwwwwww!!!!! 🇿🇦🔥
We've suffered for so many years in test cricket in India
This is massive!
— Tabraiz Shamsi (@shamsi90) November 16, 2025
However he said he had happily noticed a shift ain’t thinking favouring his ilk – spinners. “I know we’ve always produced world class fast bowlers n rightfully relied on them 2 win us games over the years,” Shamsi tweeted, adding, “…but we’ve also produced some quality spin bowlers n been very reluctant to play double spin in our XI in all formats over the years.
Hopefully the mindset is shifting👌”
South Africa cricket talking head Andrew Samson had pointed out that SA have won 5 of 7 Tests where Keshav Maharaj & Simon Harmer played. Losing 1, drawing 1. “Maharaj 34 wickets @ 20.58, Harmer 35 wickets @ 18.94. Between them, they have 65 wickets @ 15.30 in 5 wins,” he posted.
Shamsi said there had never been a dearth of committed spinners in South Africa, but the reluctance came perhaps from how former teams were comfortable commanding speedsters. “We had Immy T (Imran Tahir) & I as a combo way before India started playing Kuldeep and Yuzi together in white ball formats but we hardly played together,” Shamsi noted. “Then later Kesh and I also complimented each other gun whenever we played together but that hardly happened too,” he observed.
I know we've always produced world class fast bowlers n rightfully relied on them 2 win us games over the years but we've also produced some quality spin bowlers n been very reluctant to play double spin in our XI in all formats over the years
Hopefully the mindset is shifting👌 https://t.co/pJKx1I3UMK
— Tabraiz Shamsi (@shamsi90) November 17, 2025
A twitter user asked, “Correct.. but on “non green tops”?” That Was largely due to the nature of Test wickets in South Africa which aid pacers with their bounce and carry. Shamsi countered, “In white ball cricket, most of the wickets are generally flat. Odi and T20 cricket is hardly played on green tops.”
Harmer who returned this season after a decade away from the team, was immediately effective, in tandem with Maharaj. And even the crucial breakthrough came from the off spin of Aiden Markram.
Shamsi himself played only 2 Tests, claiming 6 wickets. In T20Is however, he had 89 from 69 at 20.60.
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