Abid Mushtaq has been excellent in Duleep Trophy match [Source: AFP, X]Duleep Trophy is known for creating stars, and the 2026 edition might have found a new hidden gem in the form of Abid Mushtaq. Playing for the North Zone in the Duleep Trophy, the J&K spinner has wreaked havoc against a star-studded West Zone side and has single-handedly kept his team in the game.West Zone had some of the best domestic batters in their lineup in Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Prithvi Shaw, but none of them had any answer against Mushtaq as he delivered the goods and has already picked up 5 wickets in the ongoing Duleep Trophy clash.Proven domestic performers often get noticed by IPL teams, and the case won’t be different for the wily left-arm orthodox spinner, as IPL teams will look to go after him.Why IPL teams should target Abid Mushtaq for 2027 season?Quality Indian spinners will always be in demand in the IPL, and Mushtaq has all the tools to succeed in the game’s shortest format. He is someone who is never afraid to toss the ball in the air, and T20 cricket demands such bowlers who are bold in their approach.Batters generally fall into the trap when a spinner tosses the ball, as they often mis-hit such deliveries. Apart from the skill set, Mushtaq also boasts a stellar economy in T20 cricket.In 42 T20 games, he has scalped 39 wickets, but most importantly, he has an economy of 6.52, which is outstanding, considering that Indian pitches are mostly flat and conducive to batters.Now, let us look at which IPL teams require a quality spinner, and can target Abid Mushtaq.1) Royal Challengers BengaluruRCB may have won back-to-back IPL titles, but the squad still has a chink in its armour, and that is the spin department. They have Krunal Pandya, who is the undisputed starter in the RCB playing XI, but their lead spinner has been Suyash Sharma, who struggles for wicket.CriterionSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDataSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableMatchesSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table26SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDismissalsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table17SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableEconomySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table9.01SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table(Suyash Sharma IPL stats for RCB)In 26 IPL games for RCB, Suyash Sharma, the leg-break bowler, has picked up just 17 wickets and has conceded runs at 9.01 runs per over.He has been good in bits and pieces, but consistency and wicket-taking ability have been missing.Abid Mushtaq could be a solid addition to the RCB lineup as he has an economy of just 6.52 and also has the wicket-taking ability that the team is missing from their lead spinner currently.Also Read: Players Who Have Played For CSK, RCB, MI In IPL ft. Karn Sharma2) Delhi CapitalsIn IPL 2026, the Delhi Capitals had two brilliant spinners in their ranks: Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, but a few months ago, Kuldeep was traded to the Lucknow Super Giants, as the Capitals are now short of a quality spinner.Axar Patel has lost his zip in the last few IPL seasons, and he is no longer a wicket-taking threat. Hence, the franchise needs a wicket-taking option, and Abid Mushtaq can be the one for them.DC bought Auqib Nabi in the IPL 2026 auction, and they could be tempted to go after another J&K player, as they need a genuine wicket-taker in the middle overs.3) Mumbai IndiansRahul Chahar, the leg-spinner, was Mumbai Indians’ last quality spin-bowler, and to some extent, Piyush Chawla filled the void, but over the last few seasons, the five-time IPL winners have been missing a match-winning Indian spinner in their ranks.The franchise has Mitch Santner and Allah Ghazanfar in the squad, but both of them have been injury-prone in recent years. Also, apart from the drift, Abid Mushtaq has the ability to generate bounce, and the Wankhede Stadium (the home ground of MI) has plenty of it.The 29-year-old can be a great addition, and he can become their lead spinner for the IPL 2027 season.Final verdictAbid Mushtaq has done extremely well in first-class cricket, and even in T20s, the wily spinner boasts an excellent economy rate, which could tempt several IPL sides to go after him before the 2027 season.There are IPL sides who are in desperate need of a quality Indian spinner, and the likes of RCB, DC, and MI should go after Mushtaq in the IPL auction, as his arrival would bolster their spin department.Also Read: From Adam Gilchrist To Rishabh Pant: Test Cricket's Most Efficient Six-Hitters Ranked On Impact
.jpg?type=mq "Revealed: Why Did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Tape His Jersey In Duleep Trophy 2026?")