It is Impossible to Play Ashwin and Jadeja All the Time: Ravi Shastri

Sep 12, 2017 at 6:29 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
It is Impossible to Play Ashwin and Jadeja All the Time: Ravi Shastri

Arguably the No.1 spin duo in the world at the moment, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin has been rested for the 2nd successive ODI series after the pair missed the recently concluded series in Sri Lanka which the Men in Blue won by a 5-0 margin. They have been rested for the first three ODIs of the series.

The decision which was taken by MSK Prasad led Selection Committee resulted in a few eyebrows being raised with some even wondering that whether the spin duo has been dropped from the limited overs team. Team India Head Coach Ravi Shastri during his exclusive interview with India Today’s Boria Majumdar clarified that the priority for the team is Test cricket and that is the reason why the duo has been rested and cannot be played all the time, especially in the limited overs format.

“We can’t play Ashwin and Jadeja all the time. There is enough time for Ashwin to get back into the team because the World Cup is still two years away. Emphasis has to be on Test cricket,” Shastri told India Today’s Boria Majumder.

The ODI series in Sri Lanka saw the return of Axar Patel while the two other spinners were left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. All the three bowlers provided the much-needed variety to Virat Kohli in the absence of Ashwin and Jadeja. Meanwhile, since the last tour of Windies in 2016, Ashwin has bowled 1014 overs in 20 Tests bagging 116 wickets at an impressive average of 25.06.

Jadeja during the same period bowled 855 overs in 16 Tests bagging 87 wickets at an average of 23.47. On the other hand, both the spinners have played a handful of ODI’s in the last couple of years. While Ashwin has bagged ten wickets in 11 ODI’s at a pretty poor average of 55 while Jadeja in 15 matches has scalped 11 wickets at an unimpressive average of 67.09.

With the ICC World Cup still a couple of years away, the Indian team management is hoping to give Axar, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Kuldeep Yadav an extended run.

Related Article
IND vs ENG: It Was Very Good To Unsettle Them Early – Axar Patel Hails Yashasvi Jaiswal For His Brilliance With The Bat On The Opening Day
IND vs ENG: It Was Very Good To Unsettle Them Early – Axar Patel Hails Yashasvi Jaiswal For His Brilliance With The Bat On The Opening Day

Jan 26, 2024, 12:08 PM


Watch: Axar Patel Bamboozles Jonny Bairstow, Castles Him With A Beauty
Watch: Axar Patel Bamboozles Jonny Bairstow, Castles Him With A Beauty

Jan 25, 2024, 12:52 PM


So Unlucky To Be Indian: Fans Slam Indian Team-Management For Not Including Kuldeep Yadav In Playing XI For 1st IND vs ENG Test
So Unlucky To Be Indian: Fans Slam Indian Team-Management For Not Including Kuldeep Yadav In Playing XI For 1st IND vs ENG Test

Jan 25, 2024, 9:36 AM


IND vs ENG: “Kuldeep Yadav As A Wrist Spinner Will Bring That Variation But…” – Harbhajan Singh Shares His Opinion On India’s Third Choice Spinner
IND vs ENG: “Kuldeep Yadav As A Wrist Spinner Will Bring That Variation But…” – Harbhajan Singh Shares His Opinion On India’s Third Choice Spinner

Jan 23, 2024, 12:30 PM


IND vs AFG: Axar Patel Completes 200 T20 Wickets, Matching Ravindra Jadeja’s Historic Feat
IND vs AFG: Axar Patel Completes 200 T20 Wickets, Matching Ravindra Jadeja’s Historic Feat

Jan 15, 2024, 2:33 PM


IND vs AFG: You Can’t Think About The T20 World Cup From Now – Axar Patel Opens Up On His Place In India’s Squad For The 2024 T20 World Cup
IND vs AFG: You Can’t Think About The T20 World Cup From Now – Axar Patel Opens Up On His Place In India’s Squad For The 2024 T20 World Cup

Jan 12, 2024, 2:13 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner