'Comes down to class’ – Eoin Morgan weighs in on India-Pakistan spin battle ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 clash | Exclusive

Former England captain Eoin Morgan has given his take on India and Pakistan’s spinners and bowling combinations ahead of the two teams’ 2026 T20 World Cup showdown at the historically spin-friendly R. Premadasa Stadium.

India and Pakistan have a wide cast of spinners to choose from, with each bringing a different skillset and variety to the table. India boast mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy and premier wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav alongside the all-round abilities of left-arm spinner Axar Patel and off-spinner Washington Sundar.

Pakistan are by no means behind, with their latest mystery spinner Usman Tariq spearheading an attack that has an experienced left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, a wily wrist-spinner Abrar Ahmed, a leg-spinning all-rounder Shadab Khan and a more-than-handy off-spinner Saim Ayub.

Spin it to win it could indeed be the mantra for both teams come February 15. Although with the rain forecast, there could be some assistance for the pacers, especially with the new ball, bringing the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Salman Mirza, and Faheem Ashraf into contention.

India face a selection conundrum, having played only two spinners – Chakravarthy and Axar – in the two games so far. Accommodating an additional spinner will force India to do so at the expense of a pacer, with Arshdeep the only potential option. Morgan, however, reckoned that it may not be wise to prioritise spin over the left-arm angle and swing of Arshdeep.

“For me, I don't think it is a wise idea. I would go swing over seam or even the left-arm angle over spin. Just simply because of conditions. If we were playing at a different ground or even at the same ground during the day, that would give me more hope about picking a wrist spinner or even a variation spinner,” Morgan said on the latest episode of Mr Cricket UAE podcast.

“So, I would look for as many options as I could, either with different angles, swing bowlers, crossing bowlers, somebody maybe with a good slower ball. So, that would tend to lend itself to Arshdeep Singh,” he added.

Morgan opined that if the wicket is flat, which he believes it will be, then the contest will indeed be decided on who bowls – or tackles – spin better.

“I think both sides are filled with quality spin bowlers. If the wicket is going to be flat like I think it will, the higher [the] class [of] the spin bowler, the more it will stand out. The lesser the quality [of] the spin bowler, the easier the ball will be to face. So, that is when it comes into selection. If you haven't got the high-quality spinner, it might not be worth going in with three or four spinners. It might be worth a gamble with a seamer or a pacer or maybe an extra all-rounder who bats deeper into the side to try and fulfill that role down the lower order,” Morgan said.

“Remember, if you don't have something that is a strong suit to offer in a high-quality spinner or anything, you are still trying to add value with the gap. You don't just play the person for the sake of it. So, again, selection issues for both sides as to how they balance up their side. But certainly, one that I'm not envious of, because obviously you don't know what's going to happen at the toss as well,” he concluded.