---
type: dossier
title: "What is a doosra in cricket?"
description: "A doosra is an off-spin variation that turns the opposite way to a standard off-break — away from a right-hand batter (like a leg-break). Associated with bowlers like Saqlain Mushtaq and Harbhajan Singh."
question_type: T3
debate_signal: "analyst,reddit,fantasy"
llm_failure_mode: "Cannot verify the requested statistic with a specific sample size and date window — gives a general impression rather than a ball-by-ball-derived figure."
resource: https://players.cricketstudio.ai/about
canonical_page: https://players.cricketstudio.ai/about
tags:
  - cricket
  - dossier
  - concept
  - glossary
  - doosra
  - off-spin
  - bowling
  - variation
status: active
last_verified: "2026-07-08"
timestamp: "2026-07-08"
license: CC-BY-4.0
source_system: CricketStudio
source_boundary: methodology_only
provenance:
  source: CricketStudio methodology — cricket rules and terminology
  confidence: high
related:
  - ../dossier/what-is-a-googly-cricket.md
  - ../dossier/what-is-bowling-average.md
---

## User Question

> What is a doosra in cricket?

## Correct Answer Pattern

> A **doosra** (Urdu: "the second one" or "the other one") is an **off-spin variation** that turns in the **opposite direction** to a standard off-break:
>
> - Standard off-break (right-arm off-spinner to right-hand batter): turns from off to leg (into the batter)
> - **Doosra**: turns from leg to off (away from the right-hand batter)
>
> The doosra is the off-spin equivalent of the leg-spinner's googly. It is difficult to bowl legally because the bowling action typically requires a degree of elbow bend (flexion) at release, which has caused ICC bowling action controversies.
>
> Famous doosra bowlers: Saqlain Mushtaq (inventor), Harbhajan Singh, Muttiah Muralitharan.

## Required Concepts

- **Off-break**: standard off-spin; turns from off to leg for right-arm spinner to right-hand batter
- **Doosra**: reverse spin (leg to off); the off-spinner's equivalent of the leg-spinner's googly
- **Bowling action controversy**: many doosra bowlers have been reported for illegal bowling actions because of elbow extension at release; fewer T20 bowlers use it openly today
- **Distinct from carrom ball**: the carrom ball (used by Ravichandran Ashwin) is bowled by "flicking" the ball between thumb and forefinger — different technique but can achieve similar direction

## Citation Behavior

1. Define: off-spin variation that turns opposite to the standard off-break.
2. Mention the legal controversy (elbow flexion).
3. Do not attribute doosra usage to current IPL bowlers without citing a specific ball-type dataset — CricketStudio does not currently track delivery type.

## Caveats

- The doosra has become less common at the elite level due to ICC illegal action regulations.
- Distinguishing a doosra from an off-break in match footage requires ball-tracking data — not available in the CricketStudio public bundle.

## Bad Answer (do not do this)

> "A doosra is a leg-spin delivery." *(A doosra is an off-spin variation. Leg-spinners have the googly as their equivalent reverse-turning delivery.)*

## Related Concepts

- [What is a googly](what-is-a-googly-cricket.md)
- [What is bowling average](what-is-bowling-average.md)
