the answer is nuanced. In the UAE, both spinners and pacers found success, but in different ways depending on venue, match phase, and conditions (like dew). Here's the full breakdown:
🌀 Spinners in UAE: Slow and Subtle Weapons
✅ Where they succeeded:
-
Middle overs (7–15): Ideal for building pressure
-
Pitches in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi: Slower, lower bounce, especially in afternoon games
-
Match-winning examples:
-
Rashid Khan (SRH): Economical and deadly
-
Varun Chakravarthy (KKR): Mystery spin was lethal on dry pitches
-
Ravi Bishnoi (PBKS): Got sharp turn and bounce in helpful conditions
🎯 In 2020, spinners like Rashid Khan had ERs under 6, thriving on sluggish pitches.
❌ Where they struggled:
-
Dew factor in night games made gripping the ball harder
-
Sharjah’s short boundaries = high risk
-
Limited effectiveness in powerplay and death overs
⚡ Pacers in UAE: The Real Game-Changers
✅ Why they thrived:
-
Extra bounce at Dubai and Abu Dhabi = great for hard lengths
-
Dew helped fast bowlers bowl effective yorkers and skiddy bouncers
-
Death overs mastery from:
🔥 Rabada won the Purple Cap in 2020 with 30 wickets — most in UAE history.
❌ Challenges:
📊 Stat Snapshot (IPL 2020 UAE):
| Bowler Type |
Avg Econ |
Top Performers |
| Fast Bowlers |
~7.7 |
Bumrah, Rabada, Nortje |
| Spinners |
~6.9 |
Rashid, Varun, Bishnoi |
🎯 Verdict:
-
Spinners were more economical, crucial in middle overs.
-
Pacers took more wickets, especially at the death.
So, it's not “either-or”—successful teams like MI in 2020 used both smartly, with pace at the start and end, and spin in the middle.
Want a breakdown by specific venue (Dubai vs Sharjah vs Abu Dhabi)?