As India stands on the cusp of a transition in their storied spin-bowling legacy, former India left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni offers a timely and nuanced assessment of where things stand. In this wide-ranging conversation, Kulkarni reflects on the shifting demands of red-ball cricket, the looming void post the Ravichandran Ashwin-Ravindra Jadeja era, and the urgent need to groom the next generation of match-winning spinners.
He also addresses the challenges Indian batters face against spin, the impact of evolving pitch conditions, and whether domestic structures are doing enough to nurture quality talent. Expanding beyond the boundary, Kulkarni shares his perspective on the growing influence of T20 cricket and the role of AI in sport — arguing for balance, adaptability, and opportunity. Excerpts:Q. We are at a crucial juncture in where we go from here as far as a spin attack is concerned. What do you make of the position Indian cricket is in?Kulkarni: See, I think what happens is every era comes up with their own skills of delivery. And you talk about the previous era to the next generation to every decade. You require match winners in the department.And when I say match winners, I mean for red ball cricket. Because you have to perform well on not only Indian soil, but overseas soils also. And that changes a lot of dynamics with the skills, with the ability, with the experience. With the right focus and focused approach, especially in red ball cricket. (It) Changes the overall dynamics of how spin and spinners will perform. Because from red ball to white ball, it’s not easy to adapt. And from white ball to red ball, it’s a bigger challenge and a bigger journey to go. So that’s why I’m focussing more on a red ball. Because at end of the day, if you have to win a Test match, you have to take 20 wickets. And with the recent past of R Ashwin – (Ravindra) Jadeja duo, they actually successfully managed to do that. Before that, you had Harbhajan Singh spearheading that. Before that, Anil Kumble led the spin attack.And then all of us were part of that in and out. Venkatpati Raju played a critical role by doing great service. So in every decade, you need that pair to hunt as spinners.And my worry right now is, this is where we need to start thinking about which is that pair who’s going to do that job for India. When we start playing minus Ashwin, who’s already retired. And now Jadeja is towards the far end of his career. How long will he sustain? We want him to play more. But eventually, there will be a time for him to hang up his boots also. So this is exactly where we need to start investing in those bowlers who will actually start performing in red ball cricket by getting 5 wicket hauls and more.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin
Q. Can you shed light on the spin bowling challenge that Indian batting faces at the moment? Where do you think the challenge begins and how do we work around it?Kulkarni: Well, I have two pieces of observations on this. An important one is that the wickets have changed across. And we are making more standardised structure also. That limits certain bowlers to take the advantage of it. But that doesn’t mean that the quality bowler cannot perform. This is exactly where the chicken and egg situation comes in.If you are doing some improvement in one area, you need to improve the skills also to complement that. Is it happening? Maybe not. Second, one of the areas where a lot of people have started investing a lot into fast bowlers. Are we having enough camps, enough penetration into spin department? If you analyse as a whole, every First Class team has got at least two spinners who are playing in the final XI. Every U-23 team has got 2-3 bowlers who are playing into their final XI. Every U-19 team is introducing two spinners into their final XI.That means there is enough and more talent available. Are we working on them to become match winners? It is something which we need to start focussing on from a state to the national team.This is the journey we have to think because every state is investing also in a spinner. But are they creating match winners is the start point of our conversation should be. Because that is where the crux of the matter lies.Earlier there used to be enough and more competition to push a spinner either to do well or phase out so that the next spinner comes and takes his place. Is it happening regularly? Maybe not.
Officials inspect the pitch ahead of the fourth Test cricket match between India and England at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, in Ranchi. (PTI)
Q. Do we emphasise too much on the surface, on what kind of pitches we want to present during a Test series? Kulkarni: Test series is a different game altogether. Let’s start with the First Class part. There are neutral curators also and that puts the perspective differently. Earlier you would have a local curator curating a pitch, customising and suiting to the local teams or state teams.That narratives have changed. So that means there is an openness. But that does not mean that you stop working on the spinner skill sets to get better.And seen in the past, I mean the likes of Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ashwin, even Jadeja, they have performed on a flatter surface also, also because they have the skills. If you have the skills, you will survive or you get better on any surface. Are we investing into that also is one area where we need to have an open conversation.Q. Another aspect to look at it, and is being remedied slightly, is that are we actually playing enough domestic cricket? Because unless you are challenged by different quality of players, different quality of spinners, you will not get better. Kulkarni: 100% you need to do that. That’s one of the message which we get to see from these selectors and the team management is to play First Class cricket. They are insisting on making sure that the selection criteria is based on the matches you play at the First Class level, which is so good to see.Because that encourages them to play in different conditions against different opportunities. Those who are actually playing regularly for Team India also. Which is a very good practise to have.Because in earlier days, and I am not comparing, but I have seen myself and I have experienced that Sachin Tendulkar, Sanjay Manjrekar would make themselves available to play for Mumbai every time they came back from India tour also. I think that is coming back slowly and that is allowing a youngster also to look at the established players who are representing India. Which puts different challenges, which adds more doubt in their mind to get better.
File photo of India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy
Q. How much should the T20 competitions be blamed for this entire struggle that we have? Kulkarni: (T20 is) here to stay. So there is no point in blaming. And I’ll use a different analogy to give the answer to you. Cricket is the only format which has got three international variations. Let’s enjoy that phase. But make no mistake, as a bowler, you need to start learning how to adapt to a red ball cricket, to a 50-50 format, to a T20 format. The challenges are different.But the skills required to survive and sustain, you need to work on those skills. Once you start working on these skills, you become better. And once you become confident and better, we’ve seen that Ashwin, Jadeja managed to survive through. We saw Muttiah Muralitharan. We saw Mitchell Santner doing phenomenally well. We saw Daniel Vettori did a wonderful job when he played IPL.So if you are a quality spinner, you will find a way. But make no mistake, they all are brilliant in red ball cricket. And that’s how they have adapted to white ball cricket. They are champion bowlers, wicket-taking bowlers in red ball cricket.
Graphic of Artificial Intelligence. (Getty Images)
Q. I’ll step to another side of the sport. We are in an age where AI controls a lot of what we do and you as an educationalist have a strong idea of that position. Where do you stand? Are you pro AI usage in sport or are you anti-AI usage? Kulkarni: Of course, I’m a great supporter of any change. And AI is here to stay. We have to embrace it, accept it, and adjust accordingly.But I have one small point to make. AI in sport will not make a significant impact. In fact, it will complement in terms of creating opportunities.It may reduce 1-3% in terms of the relevance in that contextual part. But it will create 40% more opportunities, including job creations. Because the way sport is expanding, AI cannot replace the physical interference or interjection of human component to it.So that’s complementary. But they will create more job opportunities. What I foresee in the next 3-5 years, it will increase job market by 30-50% in sports only. Direct, indirect, you put together. For me, that’s a greater opportunity, considering in other sectors, AI is going to impact reducing job. Sport, I personally feel, will increase the jobs.Q. Where do you see that change happening?Kulkarni: The appetite is in physical form with regards to athlete management, media, broadcasting, content creation, event management, sales and marketing, operations, logistics, travel and tourism. All these areas, including data analytics, will require human physical presence to take advantage of AI. It cannot be replaced.So, for example, a biomechanist or a sports science person or a strength and conditioning expert or a nutritionist will not be replaced. You will need them to be part of your team at every stage. And this is exactly what I’m trying to highlight.At every stage, you will require these specialised skills to complement. What AI can add a layer is they can actually give you the rights and the wrong directions. But the physical part of these components are only going to enhance because the analytical perspective can only be assessed what works for you may not work for me.
Former India spinner Nilesh Kulkarni (C) during an event. (Instagram)
Q. Can AI or data analytics teams take over a coach’s job completely?Kulkarni: In sports, I don’t think that’s going to happen. It will complement, but it cannot replace.It will surely complement and add an advantage, but it cannot replace, especially in sports industry. And for me, that’s a greater space to be because we want to create more job opportunities considering India is hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and India wishes to host the 2036 Olympics. You need a substantial amount of manpower to actually host these events.Q. You have collaborated with IIM Mumbai. What does that association entail?Kulkarni: Yes, it’s a very interesting piece where we’re using sport as a key vehicle to actually impart management learnings of lessons into sports. And this is what the collaboration is all about because IIM Mumbai, earlier NITIE, now they’ve got the status of IIM Mumbai, which is ranked No. 6 in the NIRF Management Rankings.And they are known for their operations and supply chain management. And that’s how they’ve decided to collaborate with sports, using sport as a vehicle to impart all the management lessons. And we are extremely proud and grateful to Professor Tiwari, who’s a director, who has actually done a wonderful job by establishing the credentials of IIM and the programme actually speaks about a unique feature.All the management lessons of critical thinking, risk assessment, analytical perspective, leadership, management lessons, all are integrating using sport and using the pre-part more than the post. Whereas general management lessons, they talk about post more than the pre. We use sport as a vehicle to impart the pre-part for preparation, planning, and preparedness to deliver what is expected into the corporate world.
