Off-Spin Trap Awaits KL Rahul; Can He Get The Monkey Off His Back In Sri Lanka?

KL Rahul has been facing issues with off-spin. Image Credits: AFP

At what stage do dismissals against a particular bowling type become a pattern? And do KL Rahul’s vulnerabilities against off-spin fall into that bracket?

Maybe, or maybe not just yet. But his issues are definitely palpable. Even in the practice gme in Colombo, Rahul was undone by Keshara Nuwantha while attempting a wild slog sweep after looking good.

KL Rahul’s persistent issues with off-spinners decoded

KL Rahul has been troubled by over the wicket angle vs off-spin

Since 2024, KL Rahul has averaged 43.91 against spin in Tests, with 11 dismissals. He faces around 76.36 deliveries per dismissal and remains in control 82.50 per cent of the time. Those are fairly healthy numbers, especially considering how challenging the home pitches have been during this period.

However, the overall numbers only tell part of the story. Rahul has been highly effective against leg-spin and left-arm spin, but off-spin has been a different challenge altogether. In fact, his numbers against off-spinners are his poorest among all the bowling types he has faced since 2024.

The Indian batter has averaged just 29.83 against off-spin, losing his wicket six times while playing a false shot on around 17.42 per cent of the deliveries. All his six dismissals have come against good-length deliveries, with opponents bowling that length on 84.08 per cent of the balls he has faced.

Also Read: Devdutt Padikkal’s Century And Spin Game Strengthen His No.3 Case For Sri Lanka Tests

Most of Rahul’s problems have come when off-spinners have operated from over the wicket. From this end, he averages only 25.60 and has been dismissed five times. From around the wicket, however, his average rises sharply to 51, with just one dismissal in 100 deliveries.

Unsurprisingly, off-spinners have increasingly exploited this angle against KL Rahul. In 2024, only 56.94 per cent of the deliveries he faced came from over the wicket. That figure rose sharply to 75.48 per cent in 2025 and stands at 100 per cent so far in 2026. 

Soft dismissals against the run of play

KL Rahul's usage of sweep and feet

KL Rahul’s high control percentage suggests he does not have too many technical issues against spin. Surely, he could have handled certain situations much better, but most of his dismissals have been soft, often coming when he is already well set at the crease.

Take his dismissal against Shoaib Bashir at Lord’s, for instance. Having just completed his century, Rahul played a loose drive with hard hands through the covers without fully covering the line. As a result, he could only find an outside edge, which went straight into the slip’s hands.

Something similar happened against Nathan Lyon at The Gabba. On 84, Rahul tried to punch a length delivery outside off towards the point region, but could only manage a thick outside edge that flew to first slip. Lyon also deserves credit here, as he was smart enough to switch to over the wicket in his second spell after finding little success from around the wicket initially.

At home, Rahul could have certainly handled Simon Harmer better on a turning track in Guwahati last year. Harmer repeatedly targeted the rough outside off, prompting Rahul to lunge forward and look to work the ball across the line. However, the delivery turned sharply, dipped right in front of him and crashed into the stumps.

Rahul’s biggest mistake here was committing too early. He also exposed his off stump by standing on middle and leg, a position that can be particularly dangerous on a turning pitch. Had he stayed back and delayed his bat swing, he may have avoided playing across the line with his off stump exposed.

The Sri Lanka challenge and how should KL Rahul counter it

Sri Lanka spinners have been put under pressure with sweep shots

India’s issues against spin are well known, with several batters showing clear technical vulnerabilities. In that context, KL Rahul has still been one of the better players of spin in India in recent years. His problems, however, tend to become more pronounced on turning tracks, as his dismissal against Simon Harmer illustrated.

There is a reason Rahul struggled against quality spin attacks at home. Most of his failures came against New Zealand and South Africa, while Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan also managed to keep him quiet. Sri Lanka are likely to have at least two off-spinners in their XI for the first Test in Galle - Dhananjaya de Silva and Ramesh Mendis.

Both have enjoyed a fair amount of success against right-handers, particularly Mendis. He has taken 41 wickets at an average of 32.14 against RHBs in Sri Lanka. Dhananjaya brings plenty of experience as a spinner on his home turf.

One area Rahul may need to address is his use of the sweep. Since 2024, he has attempted sweep shots against just 4.52% of the deliveries he has faced from spin. Against off-spin, that figure drops further to just 1.80%.

Rahul does use his feet regularly, moving in front or coming down the track on 5.71% of deliveries. But without the sweep, accessing the square boundaries becomes considerably more difficult, especially in conditions where the bounce generally stays low. Defending with a straight bat carries its own risks when the ball is turning and close-in fielders are waiting on either side.

The sweep, meanwhile, also allows a right-hander to play off-spinners with the spin and access a wider area of the ground. It also reduces the risk of being trapped LBW, particularly in the DRS era, where getting the ball across the line can be a safer option than repeatedly playing straight from the crease.

Interestingly, both Dhananjaya and Ramesh have been vulnerable to the sweep in the past. Since 2024, batters have attempted sweep shots against 8.76% of Ramesh’s deliveries, scoring at a strike rate of 158.97 without being dismissed once. 

Dhananjaya has conceded runs at a strike rate of 213.64 from the 3.30% of deliveries on which batters have attempted the sweep, again without taking a wicket.

So, KL Rahul might need to unleash the sweep a little more often to counter his off-spin issues against Sri Lanka. His usual method may not be enough against good-length deliveries on turning pitches, as some of his recent dismissals at home have shown. The sweep could be a much-needed alternative against good-length off-spin that has troubled him in recent times.

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