INTERVIEW
Follow UsThe Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 saw 19 left-arm orthodox spinners ply their trade - the most for a single edition since 2012. In a high-pressure tournament such as the IPL, coping with this competition would wear down many a player.
Thankfully, J Suchith is not one of them.
Hailing from Mysore, Suchith has been one of the most consistent performers in the Maharaja Trophy and the erstwhile Karnataka Premier League.
As the Maharaja Trophy motors along, Suchith continues to have yet another season in which he successfully contributes with the bat and ball, playing an integral role in Mysore's sparkling campaign.
“You see spinners using a lot of variations now. Right-arm off-spinners have been using the carrom ball to good effect, and it’s imperative that left-arm spinners also follow suit and develop more options in their armory. You’ll be found wanting if you refuse to evolve as a spinner,” he told Cricket.com in an exclusive interview.
Just like his hero, Kichcha Sudeep, a Kannada superstar, Suchith has found ways to keep himself on top of the game and relevant in the ever-changing landscape of T20 cricket. What's the secret behind his success?
“The way cricket has progressed, you cannot rely only on your stock deliveries. That’s why you don’t see conventional left-arm spin (in T20s) anymore. You see spinners using a lot of variations now.
“For this to happen, you need to have the right mindset. What I’ve learnt from my experiences is to be open to learning till the last day of my cricketing career. The day you become stagnant is when you stop growing as a cricketer.”
But, why do we not see more left-arm mystery spinners?
“One reason is that you see a lot more right-handers than lefties. So, it becomes a fairly obvious choice for right-arm off-spinners to resort to carrom balls. And the dependence on matchups in T20 cricket means that left-arm spinners are almost shunned at the sight of a left-hander. Also, captains have often preferred a wrist spinner over a finger spinner as a wicket-taking option.”
And for someone focussing on other aspects to keep the batter guessing, Suchith’s record at the Maharaja Trophy has been enviable. 32 wickets at an economy of just 6.8 across both editions of the tournament. This when the entire 2023 season was played on the batting-friendly surfaces of the Chinnaswamy stadium.
“I don’t believe so much in numbers. It’s all about the feel, rhythm, and how much you can contribute to the team. I don’t know how many of those 32 wickets came in a winning cause, and I personally believe that if a player’s contribution does not come in a winning cause, the numbers don’t really matter.
“At the same time, I also feel that a spinner peaks from 26 to 32. I feel that I’m also peaking at the right time, and I still have a lot left in me to contribute and win matches for Mysore Warriors (MW).”
As a 30-year-old, there’s only so much cricket that one can be expected to play. Suchith is no different, and prefers focussing on creating an impact rather than playing different formats.
“I always believe as a cricketer that red-ball is the hardest format. That’s why five-day cricket is called a Test. It really tests your skill as a cricketer, and it’s easily the hardest format.
“But, we’ve seen that, of late, the pathway to Test cricket has been through white-ball cricket. You first get into IPL, a good season helps you get an India A callup, and you make your way into the Test side from there. You’ve seen a lot of players do that.
“So, I believe that if I have to prolong my career and have an impact for an extended period, white-ball cricket will be the way to go. I have worked a lot on my skills. If I’m able to contribute in red-ball cricket as well, it will be an added advantage.“
In a country obsessed with the longest format, we don’t get to see such takes often enough. And none of us are complaining about it. Given his all-round abilities, he has no qualms in admitting that one skill tends to take a backseat over the other. In fact, he talks about the necessity of having a primary skill to maximize his contribution to the side.
“10 years of professional cricket has taught me that trying to be equally competent in batting and bowling would not lead to effective results. Of course, I work on both aspects as much as possible.
“But, having a primary skill has worked for me, and I look at myself as a bowling all-rounder. It’s about contributing as a bowler first and whatever comes with the bat is a plus.”
However, do not just go by the statements. Numbers have shown that he’s added much-needed value lower down the order for the Warriors. Batting primarily below #7 for Mysore last season, he struck at 160 and scored a boundary every five balls.
Not that he’s counting.
“I’m not sure of the numbers. But, what’s changed with my batting in the last few seasons is that I’ve started enjoying my batting a lot more. This has helped me maintain higher strike rates and it’s also made it very simple in my head.
“If I put too much pressure on myself to contribute just as much with the bat, it works against me. This is what I have understood about my game. To put it simply, making an impact with my bowling and enjoying my batting is what’s worked for me and my team.”
And speaking of making an impact, he’s already had a say in the tournament by being the best bowler in each of his side’s three wins so far. Add cameos such as the 13-ball 40 against Gulbarga Mystics, one can see why the Mysore-born has been so crucial to his side’s plans.
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