Leg-spinners have stolen thunder in IPL: Kapil Dev

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Wrist spinners have become the toast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) so much so that a successful off-spinner like Ravichandran Ashwin, too, has been keen to try bowling leg breaks, feels cricket legend Kapil Dev.

"Everybody has a different bowling attack, depending on which pitch they are playing. But what we have come to know from the first or second IPL (till) now, is that the most successful bowler to come out is the leg-spinner," Kapil Dev told PTI here.

The 1983 World Cup-winning captain spoke on the sidelines of a live cricket comedy show, which is co-produced by Greymatter Entertainment.

"Every team has their leg-spinner. Even a bowler like (Ravichandran) Ashwin, he likes to bowl more leg spin than off spin. That shows the leg-spinners are more successful than anybody else," Kapil said to buttress his point.

Ashwin is leading Kings XI Punjab this IPL season, after having turned out for Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiants in past editions.

In the current edition of the T20 league, leg-spinners have been largely successful with Mumbai Indians' rookie Mayank Markande shining in the first three games for his franchise.

Sunrisers Hyderabad, too, have a good leg-spinner in Rashid Khan of Afghanistan, while his compatriot Mujeeb Ur Rahman is also a wrist spinner who plays under Ashwin.

Even the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore possess a successful leggie in Yuzvendra Chahal.

Quizzed why leg spinners are more successful, Kapil quipped, "Can't really put a reason, but that is a wicket- taking bowler. It is difficult and not easy (to read them) and every team loves to have a leg spinner."