The complications of going spin-heavy under lights in Adelaide

 India have some serious thinking to do on the spin-bowling front heading into the semifinal at the Adelaide Oval, where the pitch generally suits the slower bowlers.

- Partha Bhaduri

Adelaide: Axar Patel has not always been up to par in this World Cup, giving away 40 runs from 3.2 overs against Zimbabwe and leaking 21 runs off a solitary over against Pakistan, although he had a good game against the Netherlands.

Axar, moreover, is not always required to bowl his full quota, so do India now need a specialist like leggie Yuzvendra Chahal? Australia is, after all, the land of leg-spin, and spinners who take the ball away from the right-handers are gradually coming into their own in this tournament.

So where does Chahal, who has been a mere passenger so far, figure in India’s plans? Or is the team content to beef up the batting instead with Axar’s presence?