Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Sai Kishore, the spin prodigy from Gujarat Titans, shared insights into his preparations for representing the Indian cricket team post-Indian Premier League (IPL). He is focusing on improving his batting, fielding, and bowling skills to become a versatile player. With unwavering confidence, Kishore asserts that he ranks among India's elite spinners, ready to capitalize on opportunities at the international stage.

Since his IPL debut in 2022, Kishore has participated in 25 matches, claiming 32 wickets with an impressive average of 20.34, and his best bowling figures stand at 4/33. Additionally, he has played three T20 matches for India, taking four wickets with a personal best of 3/12.

In a conversation with a media outlet, Kishore remarked, "I am certainly enhancing my batting and fielding skills. Moreover, I am refining my bowling to be a multi-skilled player. I genuinely believe I am among the top spinners in the country, and I am prepared for any opportunity that arises."

Kishore's IPL journey began with CSK in 2020, where he was signed for a base price of Rs 20 lakh, although he did not play any matches. He later had a remarkable season with Tamil Nadu, contributing to their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy victory.

In July 2021, he was selected as one of five reserves for India's T20I tour of Sri Lanka, and subsequently, he secured a contract with Gujarat Titans for Rs 3 crores during the 2022 IPL auction.

During the 2022 IPL season, Kishore made his debut and played a pivotal role in the team's championship run, taking six wickets in five matches.

His performances in the Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy later that year were noteworthy. He played a significant role for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final, taking seven wickets against West Zone, despite the loss.

Kishore emerged as Tamil Nadu's leading wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy, with 29 wickets across six matches, including two five-wicket hauls. His exceptional form continued into the next season, culminating in a four-wicket haul that helped South Zone clinch the Duleep Trophy in July 2023.

His stellar performances led to his international debut for India against Nepal during the Asian Games 2023, where he concluded the tournament with four wickets from three matches, averaging 15.75 with an economy rate of 5.25.

Following India's unexpected series loss to New Zealand at home last year, where they faced challenges against spin, Kishore expressed confidence in the Indian batters' ability to tackle spin in the upcoming Test series against the West Indies.

Kishore is optimistic about India's prowess in playing spin, asserting that the team is well-prepared to confront quality spin bowling.

"The approach to playing spin has evolved. Players are now more aggressive and prefer to attack spinners rather than just defend. I wouldn't say the quality of spin play has diminished; rather, players are adopting a more counter-attacking style. This shift is significant, and I believe that in the upcoming Test series, Indian batters will rise to the occasion and perform better against spin than the statistics suggest. We are currently one of the best spin-playing nations globally," he concluded.

India is set to face the West Indies in a two-match Test series starting October 2 in Ahmedabad, with the visitors bringing back seasoned players Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze to strengthen their batting lineup against India's spinners.