Kumble hails 18‑year‑old Hemchudeshan as future Test off‑spinner

Anil Kumble has singled out 18‑year‑old J Hemchudeshan as a classic off‑spinner who could soon partner Manav Suthar in India’s Test side. The youngster is already in the BCCI’s development pool while featuring for the India Under‑19 team ahead of the next World Cup. He entered the Tamil Nadu Ranji squad before his 18th birthday, debuted against Jharkhand and has played three first‑class matches so far. In the 2023‑24 Vijay Merchant Trophy he claimed a record 53 wickets, his first season after converting from pace to off‑spin. The following year he took 47 wickets in 15 innings of the Cooch Behar Trophy at an average of 15.23, earning the MA Chidambaram Trophy at the BCCI Naman Awards. Hemchudeshan began as a top‑order batsman who bowled fast, earning the nickname “Malinga” in his hometown of Trichy. Coach Vinod advised him to switch to spin because of his height, and he started practising off‑spin around age 14‑16. He later refined his craft under Victor Wilkins, learning to vary flight, revs and angle on different pitches. His main weapons are the heavy flight, sharp turn and bounce he extracts from the surface. In July he turned down a place in the Tamil Nadu Premier League to focus on red‑ball cricket, spending two months at the Centre of Excellence with Kumble and former spinner Sunil Joshi. Kumble’s two‑day session emphasized visualising each spell and using angles, while Joshi is working him on hip drive, release point and non‑bowling arm to sustain long spells. Hemchudeshan says his priority is the longer format and his dream is to wear the Test cap, shrugging off external pressure.

Context

India currently has a shortage of quality off‑spinners, making any young talent with proven wicket‑taking records highly valuable. Success in domestic tournaments like the Vijay Merchant and Cooch Behar Cups often leads to faster promotion to state and national teams.