3 min readMar 19, 2025 10:20 AM IST
First published on: Mar 19, 2025 at 10:19 AM IST
The final frontier is now the familiar frontier. It’s still daunting, but no longer impregnable. The variegated hues of pitches in the subcontinent still intrigue the visiting teams, but they no longer intimidate them. The interpretation is shrewder, the approach is sharper, and the fear is waning. So much so that sometimes they nullify the devils of the 22 yards more competently than the Indian batsmen, their spin game, specifically, diminished.
*In 10 expeditions to India, spread over nearly half a century, New Zealand bowlers had mustered only seven five-wicket hauls ever. In the next two, in the span of three years, they matched the haul, and inevitably whitewashed India in their last encounter. Even if the growing frequency of tours is accounted for, credits due to WTC cycles, and the declining standards of India’s batsmen against spinners, the number is instructive of New Zealand seamers’ familiarity with the subcontinent. Ajaz Patel, apart, the five-for heroes are all IPL regulars (Tim Southee, Matt Henry and Mitch Santner).
*There was a time when overseas spinners struggled to make an impact even on rank turners. By the time they gauged the characteristics, the twinkle-toed, loose-limbed Indian batsmen would have already psychoanalysed them. Apart from the doosra-spitting Saqlain Mushtaq at his peak, none entangled them in a web of spin. Over the decades, New Zealand, where only snakes were rarer than spinners to spot, packed random ones to India, only to return home bruised. Before Ajaz Patel’s 10-wicket feat in Mumbai in 2021, only the genial off-spinner John Bracewell had eked out five wickets in a game. In the recent series, though, Ajaz and Santner grabbed two apiece. Some of the recent spin-tormentors of India’s batsmen don’t feature in the IPL, but they have senior teammates knowledgeable enough about pitches to write a thesis. The tracks have, thus, been demystified.
*The familiarity reflects in global tournaments too. India stumbled in both the white-ball World Cups held at home. Every player in the West Indies eleven, Sulieman Benn and Denesh Ramdin aside, that captured the 2016 World Cup had featured in the IPL. Barring Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne, every member of the Australia team that thrashed India in the 2023 final too had IPL exposure. Some franchises gave access to use their facilities before tours to India. For instance, CSK opened the doors of their academy to their Kiwi trio of Rachin Ravindra, Daryll Michell and Santner before the India series. Resultantly, the batsmen hit the straps straightaway, unlike in the past where they perpetually struggled in opening games. To do this in India’s most dominant phase at home is even more admirable.
*It is not just the conditions, but they get used to the whole atmosphere, the crowd and colour, heat and humidity as well. Some have embraced the local culture and the country.
IPL: It is not just the conditions, but they get used to the whole atmosphere, the crowd and colour, heat and humidity as well. (BCCI) 
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