Former Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal remains one of the most influential spin bowlers of the modern era. At his peak, Ajmal was virtually unplayable, combining sharp turn, subtle variations, and relentless accuracy to dominate batters across formats. With over 400 international wickets to his name, Ajmal played a key role in Pakistan’s success in the late 2000s and early 2010s, redefining how spinners could control games even outside traditional subcontinental conditions.

The changing demands on spinners in modern cricket

In today’s game, spin bowling has evolved further. With flatter pitches, heavier bats, and aggressive batting mindsets, modern-day spinners are required to be tactically astute rather than merely reliant on turn. Flight, deception, changes of pace, and smart use of the crease have become essential weapons. As T20 and ODI cricket continue to dominate the calendar, spinners who can outthink batters are often the difference between winning and losing.

Speaking on The Champions Playbook Podcast, Ajmal shared his views on the art of spin bowling today and revealed his list of the top five spinners in modern-day cricket, praising those who blend intelligence with skill.

Saeed Ajmal reveals his top five spinners of the modern era

Ajmal began his list by naming Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, highlighting his immense value across formats. Jadeja’s ability to bowl economically, apply pressure, and chip in with crucial wickets has made him one of the most reliable spinners in world cricket. His sharp left-arm spin, combined with exceptional fielding and batting depth, places him among the most complete cricketers of the modern era.

At number two, Ajmal picked Kuldeep Yadav, reserving special praise for the Indian wrist-spinner’s white-ball prowess. Ajmal was unequivocal in his assessment, calling Kuldeep the best white-ball spinner currently in the game. He lauded Kuldeep’s sharp turn, ability to get the ball to drift in the air, and his commitment to giving the ball flight—qualities Ajmal described as the hallmark of intelligent bowling.

“The best white-ball spinner right now is Kuldeep Yadav. There’s no doubt about it, I really like Kuldeep. He spins the ball sharply and also gets it to break in the air. Even though Kuldeep is Indian, I want to see the best, and that’s why Kuldeep is at the top. Watch his videos; he puts a lot of effort into giving the ball flight. That’s what you call intelligent bowling – bowling that doesn’t come onto the bat easily, and Kuldeep does just that,” said Ajmal.

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England’s premier leg-spinner Adil Rashid was Ajmal’s next choice. The former Pakistan spinner admired Rashid’s variations and control, particularly his flipper, noting how effectively Rashid uses his body weight to generate deception. Rashid’s consistency in ICC tournaments and bilateral series has cemented his reputation as one of the finest limited-overs spinners in the world.

“He’s a good bowler, man, he bowls exceptionally well. His variations and flight are amazing. When he bowls a flipper, you can see how he uses his body weight with it,” added Ajmal

Ajmal completed his list by naming New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner and Australia’s Adam Zampa. He praised Santner for his clever pace variations and control, qualities that make him especially effective in pressure situations. On Zampa, Ajmal offered a more measured assessment, acknowledging his effectiveness and role in Australia’s white-ball success.

“Santner is good, he also has great pace variations. Zampa is alright,” Ajmal added further.

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India’s economy continues to expand at a robust pace, supported by strong domestic demand, low inflation and healthy bank balance sheets, even as risks from unsecured lending, fintech exposure, external uncertainties and stablecoins persist, the Reserve Bank of India said in its December 2025 Financial Stability Report (FSR), PTI reported.The report said the domestic financial system remains “robust and resilient”, aided by strong balance sheets, easy financial conditions and low financial market volatility. However, it cautioned that geopolitical and trade-related uncertainties pose near-term risks to financial stability.Here are the key highlights of the report.

Growth outlook remains positive

The RBI noted that real GDP growth surprised on the upside in the first two quarters of FY 2025-26, registering 7.8% in Q1 and 8.2% in Q2.Growth was supported by strong private consumption and public investment. The central bank said the outlook remains positive, aided by low inflation, easy financial conditions, an above-normal monsoon, tax reforms and the continued expansion of digital public infrastructure.

Banks’ asset quality improves further

The health of scheduled commercial banks remains sound, with strong capital and liquidity buffers, improved asset quality and robust profitability, the report said.The gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio stood at a multi-decade low of 2.1% in September 2025 and is projected to improve further to 1.9% by March 2027 under a baseline scenario.Under adverse stress scenarios, the GNPA ratio could rise to 3.2% and 4.2%, the RBI said.

Capital buffers remain adequate

From a capital perspective, the capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR) remained strong as of September 2025, with public sector banks at 16% and private sector banks at 18.1%.The aggregate CRAR of 46 major scheduled commercial banks may decline from 17.1% in September 2025 to 16.8% by March 2027 under the baseline scenario. Under hypothetical adverse scenarios, it may fall to 14.5% and 14.1%.Stress tests indicated relatively higher depletion in the capital of public sector banks compared with private and foreign banks. Six banks, accounting for 15% of total banking assets, would breach the regulatory minimum CRAR under a severe shock.

Unsecured loans drive retail slippages

More than half of retail loan slippages are coming from unsecured products such as personal loans and credit cards, the RBI said.Unsecured loans accounted for 53.1% of total retail loan slippages. Among bank groups, private sector lenders recorded a higher share of fresh slippages.Unsecured loans contributed nearly 76% of slippages for private banks, compared with 15.9% for public sector banks. At an aggregate level, the GNPA ratio for unsecured retail loans stood at 1.8%, compared with 1.1% for overall retail advances.

Fintech lending flagged

The RBI flagged elevated impairment among borrowers who have taken unsecured loans from five or more lenders, highlighting the role of fintech firms.Unsecured loans account for more than 70% of fintechs’ total loan books, with over half of such loans extended to borrowers under 35 years of age.Between September 2024 and September 2025, fintech lending grew 36.1%, driven largely by personal loans, the report said.

Stablecoins pose risks to monetary sovereignty

In a special feature of the report, the RBI warned that widespread adoption of stablecoins could pose significant risks to India’s monetary sovereignty and financial stability.The central bank said foreign currency-denominated stablecoins could erode monetary control, weaken monetary policy transmission and complicate capital flow management, particularly for emerging economies like India.It reiterated that central bank money must remain the ultimate settlement asset and said central bank digital currencies can deliver efficiency and programmability while preserving trust in money.The RBI cautioned that stablecoins can be volatile, vulnerable to confidence shocks and structural fragilities, and could be misused for money laundering, terrorism financing and weapons proliferation without adequate regulation.

Rupee weakens on trade and capital flow pressures

The report said the rupee depreciated against the US dollar due to falling terms of trade, high tariffs and a slowdown in capital flows.Despite a broad weakening of the US dollar against other major and Asian currencies, the rupee weakened as India’s effective US tariff rate remained higher than that of its trading partners.

File photo: Union minister Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah has asked BJP public representatives in West Bengal to step up grassroots outreach as the party prepares for the high-stakes assembly elections due in the next four months. Shah directed MPs, MLAs and local representatives to spend at least four days every week in their constituencies and hold a minimum of five street-corner meetings daily.During a closed-door meeting with party MPs, MLAs, civic body councillors and organisational office-bearers on Wednesday, Shah laid down clear performance benchmarks. He told leaders they must “prove their worth” to be considered for party tickets in the upcoming polls, a senior party leader present at the meeting said, according to news agency PTI.Calling for unity within the party, Shah also indicated that former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh would be one of the key faces of the party in the elections. Ghosh, who has largely remained out of the spotlight in recent months, was invited to the meeting, signalling his renewed role in the party’s campaign. Shah also held a separate interaction with Ghosh, former state chief Sukanta Majumdar, current state president Samik Bhattacharya and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, pointing to efforts to bridge gaps between senior and newer leaders.“I can’t say much, but you will see an active Dilip Ghosh in the 2026 polls. I was called to listen to my experiences and opinions,” Ghosh told reporters while leaving the venue, as quoted by PTI. Adhikari, expressing confidence ahead of the meeting, said, “Everyone in the party is energised. We will win the 2026 polls and bring about true change in this state.”Shah, who is seen as the BJP’s chief election strategist, also heard feedback from the party’s 2024 Lok Sabha candidates about their campaign experiences, including factors behind wins and losses. He asked them to share detailed assessments of assembly segments under their parliamentary constituencies as part of preparations for next year’s polls. The meeting was aimed at reviewing the organisational readiness of the BJP’s West Bengal unit.Senior BJP MP Khagen Murmu said he conveyed his resolve to fight the Trinamool Congress government despite facing alleged attacks during a recent visit to a flood-affected area. “Despite being beaten up by TMC goons… I am not afraid,” he said, adding that people were with the BJP, as per PTI.Another senior leader said Shah stressed intensive booth-level mobilisation and the deployment of ‘vistaraks’ across all constituencies to strengthen the party’s base. He also told leaders that Shah would spend a few days every month in Kolkata in the run-up to the 2026 elections.Shah also invoked figures such as Swami Vivekananda, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Rabindranath Tagore, promising to revive Bengal’s heritage and culture after forming a BJP government, the leader said. Earlier, Shah had launched a sharp attack on chief minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her government of corruption and altering the state’s demography through infiltration, an issue he said would be central to the BJP’s campaign.Following the meeting, Shah addressed a party workers’ conference in Kolkata and visited the Thantania Kali Temple before returning to Delhi.