IPL 2021 Exclusive: Ranking and Rating the Spin Attack of each Team

Sunrisers Hyderabad, the team with the best set of spinners as we look at the rating and ranking of spinners of each team for IPL 2021. 

The spinners are the heart of any IPL team. They are the ones who dominate the middle-overs, and provide for the important wickets to break the shackles. However, surprisingly enough, the Purple cap in IPL history has been won only twice by spinners. Pragyan Ojha won in 2010 and Imran Tahir won in 2019.

Come to IPL 2021, every team is equipped with at least 2-3 potent spinners that would play a major role in the team’s successful campaign. But, which team has the best spin attack overall? In this article, we would be rating and ranking the spinners of each team for IPL 2021.

In general, a team needs two solid spinners, 1 good backup spinner, and at least one decent backup spinner. That’s how the spin attack of any team would look strong if it meets all these criteria. 

Methodology:

• Spinners are classified as best spinners, Good backup spinner, and other backup spinners, and all are being rated on a scale of 10. However, for overall rating calculation, the weighted average is taken with higher weightage given to the best spinners. 
• All Spinners are relatively rated with respect to benchmark spinner basis their last two IPL’s performance, and/or their current International and Domestic form. Importantly, IPL performance has been given more weightage.
• While any player can play an additional role as ‘other backup’, best players and good backups should have a unique set of players. Also, 6 is the least rating for any player in the squad. 

Benchmark Spinner for IPL 2021: Rashid Khan

Alright then, let’s look at the rating and ranking of spinners of each team for IPL 2021. 

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#8: Punjab Kings – 7.58

Two Best Spinners: Ravi Bishnoi & Murugan Ashwin

Good Backup Spinner: Fabien Allen

Other Backup Spinner(s): Jalaj Saxena, Saurabh Singh, Deepak Hooda, Harpreet Brar, Shahrukh Khan & Chris Gayle

Not so surprising in the rankings as Punjab Kings do not have a single experienced spinner in the squad. The talented duo, Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin are PBKS’ best spinners. While Ashwin has been around for a few years, Bishnoi would be in his second season in IPL 2021. In terms of rating, Ashwin and Bishnoi, both have a rating of 8 each. 

The West Indian all-rounder, Fabien Allen is the team’s good backup option. The Slow-left-arm spinner is still making a mark in the Cricketing world, and has a rating of 7.25. The other backups aren’t so impressive, and it is fruitless to talk about their rating. Jalaj Saxena and Saurabh Singh are the only decent names with a rating of 7 each.

Overall, Punjab Kings get a weighted average rating of 7.55 in the spin attack category; the lowest among all the teams. 

#7: Rajasthan Royals – 7.78

Two Best Spinners: Shreyas Gopal & Rahul Tewatia 

Good Backup Spinner: Mayank Markhande

Other Backup Spinner(s): KC Cariappa, Mahipal Lomror, Yashasvi Jaiswal & Riyan Parag.  

Another team that is devoid of any experienced spinners in the squad. In fact, all their spinners are uncapped; which is a surprising strategy. Anyway, RR’s two best spinners are the leg-spin duo, Shreyas Gopal and Rahul Tewatia. While Gopal’s performance has taken a dip in the last two years, Tewatia is known more for his batting. Overall, Gopal has a rating of 8.25 and Tewatia has a rating of 8.

Coming to backups, the only good name present in that list is Mayank Markhande, who hasn’t had success since being released by Mumbai Indians. Markhande has a rating of 7.75 to his name. The other backups are decent with KC Cariappa having the maximum rating of 7.25 to his name.

Overall, Rajasthan Royals get a weighted average rating of 7.78 in the spinners category.

#6: Mumbai Indians – 7.87

Two Best Spinners: Rahul Chahar & Piyush Chawla 

Good Backup Spinner: Krunal Pandya

Other Backup Spinner(s): Anukul Roy & Jayant Yadav 

While Mumbai Indians are excellent in all the categories, their only weak point is spin bowling. Rahul Chahar is the leading spinner in the squad, who has a decent IPL and an International experience of a few matches. He carries a rating of 8.5 with him. Piyush Chawla, the experienced pro is at the flag end of his career, and he carries a rating of 8.25 with him. 

All-rounder Krunal Pandya is MI’s good backup spinner. Krunal’s spin bowling capabilities have taken a dip in the last few years, and that gives him a rating of 8. The other backup options, Jayant Yadav and Anukul Roy carry a rating of 7 and 6.75 respectively.

Overall, Mumbai Indians get a weighted average rating of 7.87 in the spinners category.

#5: Delhi Capitals – 8.15

Two Best Spinners: Axar Patel & Ravi Ashwin 

Good Backup Spinner: Amit Mishra 

Other Backup Spinner(s): Praveen Dubey, Lalit yadav & M Siddharth 

The Test specialists, Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin would be leading the spin duties for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021. They have been good performers in the IPL in the last few years, and that gives them a rating of 8.5 each. 

Amit Mishra, meanwhile, isn’t a bad backup option either. He is almost equivalent to Axar Patel and Ravi Ashwin with his spin bowling, even though he has not played much Cricket in the last few years. Thus, he carries a rating of 8.25 under his belt. The other young backups, Praveen Dubey and M Siddharth carry a rating of 7.5 and 7.25 respectively. 

Overall, Delhi Capitals get a weighted average rating of 8.15 in the spinners category.

#4: Royal Challengers Bangalore – 8.37

Two Best Spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal & Adam Zampa 

Good Backup Spinner: Washington Sundar 

Other Backup Spinner(s): Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmad & Pavan Deshpande 

Yuzvendra Chahal may be having a bad phase in the International circuit in the last couple of years, but in IPL, he is still a force to reckon with. Being one of the best spinners in IPL, Chahal carries a rating of 9.5 under his belt. Adam Zampa, Australia’s leading spinner has really good stats in the International circuit, but not so much in IPL, and that gives him a rating of 8.75. 

Washington Sundar now represents India in all three formats. Known as the powerplay bowler, Sundar has a rating of 8.5. The other backup spinners include Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmad, and Pavan Deshpande, and they carry a rating of 7, 6.5, and 6 respectively. 

Overall, Royal Challengers Bangalore get a weighted average rating of 8.37 in the spinners category.

#3: Kolkata Knight Riders – 8.40

Two Best Spinners: Sunil Narine & Varun Chakravarthy 

Good Backup Spinner: Shakib Al Hasan

Other Backup Spinner(s): Kuldeep Yadav, Harbhajan Singh & Pawan Negi 

Kolkata Knight Riders have 4 solid spinners in their roster, but somehow the performance of two of these four, Sunil Narine and Kuldeep Yadav hasn’t been up to the mark. Whereas Varun is still inexperienced and Shakib is making a comeback. Even though all four have tremendous potential, basis their form and situation, Narine, Shakib, and Varun have a rating of 8.5 each.

Kuldeep Yadav is currently going through a rough patch, and it is unlikely, he would get all the games. Even his IPL performance in the last two years has been mediocre. Nevertheless, he carries a rating of 8.25. The other backup options are also not bad in the form of Harbhajan Singh and Pawan Negi, who has a rating of 8 and 7.5 respectively. 

Overall, Kolkata Knight Riders get a weighted average rating of 8.40 in the spinners category.

#2: Chennai Super Kings – 8.55

Two Best Spinners: Imran Tahir & Mitchell Santner 

Good Backup Spinner: Ravindra Jadeja 

Other Backup Spinner(s): Moeen Ali, K Gowtham, R Sai Kishore & Karn Sharma 

A surprising fact to present as we look at the rating of CSK’s spin attack. Two of their best spinners, Imran Tahir and Mitchell Santner didn’t feature much in IPL 2020, and there are not even the first-choice spinners for CSK in IPL 2021. While Tahir has been one of the best spinners in IPL in the last 5 years, Santner is NZ’s leading spinner. From the rating perspective, Tahir has a rating of 9.25 and Santner has a rating of 8.5. 

CSK also have good backups in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, and Karn Sharma. All three carry a rating of 8.25, 8.25, and 8 respectively. The other backup options are also good in the form of K Gowtham and R Sai Kishore; both carry a rating of 7.5 each. 

Overall, Chennai Super Kings get a weighted average rating of 8.55 in the spinners category.

#1: Sunrisers Hyderabad – 8.65

Two Best Spinners: Rashid Khan & Mujeeb Zadran

Good Backup Spinner: Mohammad Nabi 

Other Backup Spinner(s): Shahbaz Nadeem, Abhishek Sharma, Kedar Jadhav, J Suchith & Abdul Samad 

The team filled with all Afghan superstars, and that too superb spinners, SRH have the best spin attack in the competition. Starting with the spin wizard, Rashid Khan, who is the benchmark spinner with a rating of 10, SRH have two more good spinners in the form of Mujeeb Zadran and Mohammad Nabi.

While all three may not play together, two of them can play together, and the third can provide for wonderful backup for the Captain, Warner. Overall, Nabi has a rating of 8.25 and Mujeeb Zadran has a rating of 8.75. From the other backups, Nadeem would get a few games, and he has a rating of 7.75. Among others, Abhishek Sharma has a rating of 7.25, Abdul Samad has 6.5, Kedar Jadhav has 6.75, and J Suchith has 7.25. 

Overall, Sunrisers Hyderabad get a weighted average rating of 8.65 in the spinners category.

So, that completes the rating and ranking of spinners of each team for IPL 2021. 

Thanks for reading! Looking at the rating and ranking of spinners for IPL 2021, which team do you think has the best set of spinners? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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ALSO READ: IPL 2021 Special: Ranking and Rating the Openers of each Team

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