Bishnoi's Struggles Expose India's Wrist-Spin Void
With limited alternatives, selectors keep turning to Ravi Bishnoi despite his roller-coaster form.
India's wrist-spin cupboard looks increasingly bare, forcing selectors to persist with Ravi Bishnoi in T20Is. The 2028 T20 World Cup is still far away, but the lack of new faces in this department is worrying. Bishnoi's recent performances have hardly inspired confidence, yet he remains the go-to option whenever Kuldeep Yadav is unavailable.
Bishnoi's stint with Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 sums up his inconsistency. After a fiery start, where he claimed nine wickets in four games at an average under 13, his form nosedived. Over the next five matches, he picked only two wickets and bled runs at an economy of 11, leading to his omission from the playing XI. Interestingly, his replacement, young Yash Raj Punja, showed promise with nine scalps in eight innings, hinting at a possible future alternative.
Despite these struggles, Bishnoi was called up for the England tour, only to produce his worst T20I figures in Manchester and get dropped. His continued selection reflects the selectors' desperation rather than belief in his current ability. While Bishnoi can still evolve, India urgently needs to groom other wrist-spin options. Relying on a player whose form swings wildly is a risky strategy with the next T20 World Cup looming.