Hosein has a knuckleball, an arm ball, a drifting delivery, and the conventionally spinning ball, but his decisions are just as interesting as his variations. He likes having options before he begins a spell, and trusts his instincts once it starts. Just as importantly, he knows when to keep doing the same thing.
“Don’t get too greedy or go trying things or experimenting,” Hosein says ahead of his landmark game. “Just try and stick to what’s working, stick to what is the most difficult delivery for the batters to get away. And that should be your game plan.”
That judgment is especially valuable since Hosein does most of his work in the powerplay. With 990 deliveries in the powerplay in T20Is, Hosein is the most experienced spinner in the world when it comes to that phase.
“Bowling in the powerplay in general, it’s pretty scary, especially when you’re a spinner,” he says. “It’s also extra difficult when you have good batting surfaces, and these guys who strike at high strike rates.”
Hosein’s accuracy and subtle changes in speed and length have made him a dependable option in the powerplay. The arm ball makes batters stay on their toes, while the turn keeps them in two minds. His unique role also explains why West Indies field two left-arm fingerspinners: Hosein usually bowls early, while Gudakesh Motie works through the middle overs.
The five-match series against India, though, will test Hosein. His bowling to Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi or Ishan Kishan in the powerplay will be among the most attractive match-ups in this T20I series, but he has not bowled much to them in the IPL. Hosein’s powerplay record in T20s is also less favourable against left-hand batters, as he averages 41 against them and concedes at 8.20 runs per over. Against right-hand batters, those numbers are much better at 27.06 and 7.21, respectively.
So does Hosein think he stop India’s destructive top order, which could even have three left-hand batters?
“If you’re playing in every one [of the five T20Is], then the opposition can plan better for you each time,” Hosein said. “So it’s always about trying to stay one step ahead of the batter, trying to be as clever as possible, and just trying to get the job done for the team. I think that’s my general game plan.
“Even though I might not have played against these guys a lot, there’s a lot of data around. So you can have your planning done.”
Preparation, though, can only take him so far. “I think, sometimes, you have to let instincts take over,” he said. “Because just as you’re looking at data and trying to exploit guys’ weaknesses, they are also looking at the data as well and trying to get better.”
Hosein goes on to say that he usually has his “dos and don’ts” for the day and for the particular batter, and if a delivery proves difficult to put away, he is happy to repeat it. Having variations does not mean he has to use them all.
It is an understanding developed through years of playing the game. Hosein represented West Indies at the Under-19 World Cup in 2012, took 11 wickets in his third first-class match for Trinidad and Tobago, and scored an unbeaten hundred in his next. But the early promise did not bring regular opportunities: across one five-year stretch, he played only two first-class games, and travelled around the Caribbean for permanence before returning to Trinidad in 2019.
“I’ve been No. 1 before, and the aim is always to get back there. And it’s a personal motivation. I think most athletes, in whatever field they’re playing, want to be the best.”
Akeal Hosein
Much of Hosein’s motivation in his early days came from the need to make a living and support his family. Growing up in Laventille, in Port-of-Spain, Hosein lived with the danger of gang violence around him. Cricket offered a route forward, and senior players helped him. Sunil Narine provided affordable accommodation, while Kieron Pollard helped him find employment that allowed him to keep training.
In the five years and 99 T20Is that have followed since his debut in 2021, Hosein has become among the first names in West Indies’ T20I team sheet, a globe-trotting fingerspinner, and has even captained in one series, albeit a forgettable one against Nepal as West Indies lost 2-1. He wants to tick over to the 100th without incident, and doesn’t have a roadmap planned yet for the next five years.
“The past is the past,” Hosein says, “but it’s an achievement in itself. It shows that you’re dedicated, you’re hungry, and it also shows that your performances have been up to par as well. It’s something to look back and smile at. And who knows if I can make 100 more? It’s motivation to continue, and to try and push and see how many games you can play.”
But one ambition he does have is to return to No. 1 on the ICC T20I bowling rankings. In December 2024, Hosein went to the top of the bowling rankings. But in the years since, he has slipped to 19th.
“Always [want to be the world’s best again],” he says. “I’ve been No. 1 before, and the aim is always to get back there. And it’s a personal motivation. I think most athletes, in whatever field they’re playing, want to be the best. They want to be No. 1 – not just to brag about it, but to keep pushing yourself.”
Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at Cricinfo. @sreshthx
