‘Varun won’t struggle’: Anil Kumble confident of India’s spin strength amid dew threat

Former India captain Anil Kumble believes dew could emerge as a decisive factor in the upcoming T20 World Cup but feels India’s spin unit is largely well prepared to deal with the challenge.

With the tournament scheduled during February and March and several matches set to begin late in the evening, Kumble noted that bowlers, especially spinners will have to contend with a wet ball regularly. While he expects Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel to manage the conditions comfortably, he admitted that Kuldeep Yadav could face a slightly stiffer test.

“Especially during the time of the World Cup in February and March, with matches being played late in the evening, it’s not going to be easy,” Kumble said on JioHotstar. “As spinners, you do get used to bowling with a wet ball, it’s nothing new. But one big positive for India is that someone like Varun Chakaravarthy shouldn’t be affected too much because of the grip he has on the ball and the pace at which he bowls.”

The former leg-spinner explained that Varun’s strong grip and flatter trajectory should allow him to remain effective even in less-than-ideal conditions. “I don’t think dew will bother Varun that much. Of course, it’s not the same as bowling with a dry ball, but I don’t see him struggling. Axar Patel should also be fine,” he said.

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Kumble, however, acknowledged that Kuldeep’s bowling style could make things trickier when the ball gets wet. “The one person who might find it a bit more difficult is Kuldeep Yadav. Having said that, Kuldeep is also used to bowling in these conditions,” he added.

Looking beyond conditions, Kumble feels India are well placed to chase history by attempting something no team has achieved so far, defending a T20 World Cup title.

“Winning back-to-back World Cups is never easy, especially in the T20 format. No team has managed to defend the title,” he said. “But this presents a great opportunity for India. With the form they are in and the strength of the squad, they are equipped to handle any situation.”

Kumble backed India to go deep into the tournament, adding that once the knockout stages arrive, anything is possible. “India should certainly qualify for the semi-finals. From there on, it’s anybody’s game. But I genuinely believe India have a great chance to win the World Cup and make it truly special by lifting back-to-back titles.”