Indian batsmen are not the best players of spin anymore: Shane Warne

Shane Warne is arguably the best spin bowler the world has ever seen. In a career spanning 15 years, Warne picked 1,001 wickets in international cricket. Fans still reminisce his battles with fellow contemporaries Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. Warne was always fierce and was a part of an Australian side which dominated both home and away for a considerable amount of time.

During those times, the famous Indian batting line-up was considered the best players of quality spin bowling. The likes of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, in particular, had given sleepless nights to Warne whenever the leg-spinner toured on the shores of India. The 47-year old acknowledged India’s dominance against spin in the yesteryears but said that the current lot is not as good as their seniors were. Warne pointed out that barring Kohli, the rest are just good players of spin, not great.

“This Indian team no longer has the best batsmen against spin bowling, barring Kohli. They are still very good but certainly not the best anymore. Don’t ever stop appreciating how good Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag were. That’s why I would rather bowl at the current Indian team,” Warne told India Today.

Test cricket ultimate for every cricketer

Warne, who inspirationally won the IPL title leading Rajasthan Royals in the first edition of the IPL in 2008, acknowledged that the franchise-based leagues offer a lucrative amount of money but ultimately the pedigree of a player is known for his performances at the Test level.

“Test cricket is still the ultimate for any cricketer. Make as much money as you can from playing in T20 leagues around the world but make sure you perform in Test cricket. You need to test yourself against the best in the business.”

“The best players in the world should be playing Test cricket. Someone like AB de Villiers, who wants to take a break from Tests, has to be playing the longest format,” he said.

Want to be remembered as an entertainer

Warne excelled in whatever format he played in but will always be remembered for his contribution to Test cricket. His style of bowling entertained the crowds as he used to emanate magic on his day. No wonder Warne wants to be remembered as an entertainer.

“I am an entertainer and I would like to be remembered for everything that I did on the field. I don’t regret anything because I cannot do anything about it now,” he said.

Warne said that the fondest memory of playing for Australia was to be a part of a dominant Australian side in the first half of 2000’s.

“Playing in an Australian team which was dominant home and abroad, beating other teams everywhere in the world was one of the highlights of my career.”

India is the current No. 1 Test team but they lack the venom of the Australian side Warne was a part of. Teams these days are doing exceptionally well at home but falter while touring overseas.

“I don’t think there is a clear No. 1 team in the world right now. There are a lot of teams which are equally good. Home teams are winning more matches now.”