Indian skipper Virat Kohli has confirmed that Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are going to be the first choice spinners in home conditions. Ashwin and Jadeja have been lethal in the Indian conditions and Kuldeep Yadav will need to wait for his chances. Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the Indian bowlers in the first innings of the first Test against South Africa as he scalped seven wickets.
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On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja had taken four wickets in the second innings including three scalps in one over. Both the experienced spinners were right on the money and breathed down the neck of the South African batsmen with their accuracy.
Furthermore, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are handy with the bat and they provide crucial runs while batting down the order.
Virat Kohli said in the pre-match press conference ahead of the second Test match at Pune, “No it’s pure combination. A lot has been spoken, a lot has been said for the system we have followed for the last two years. The only thing that matters to us is wanting to win as many games as we can and we have been able to do that. We have the least losing percentage in the last three years and there is a good reason for that. In fact, we don’t want to be rigid in their thinking, like this the way we need to go forward”.
“We want to be flexible and it can’t be possible if the team doesn’t buy into it. And the guys have bought into it and the players just want to contribute. No one is self-centered, no one is thinking about only themselves as everyone is thinking what they can do for the team. Fast bowlers are happy to contribute when they are not bowling that much during the game. They have been running in and bowling their hearts out. So, Kuldeep Yadav understands what the situation is, he understands that Ashwin and Jadeja are going to be our first-choice spinners in Indian conditions. Also because they offer much more with the bat”.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been sensational with the ball in the Indian conditions. Ashwin had become the joint-fastest to 350 wickets with Muttiah Muralitharan in 66 Test matches. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja became the fastest southpaw bowler to 200 wickets in 44 Test matches. Thus, it is not a surprise that they will be the first choice spinners in the team.
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India was able to take a 1-0 lead after winning the first Test by 203 runs. The hosts will like to continue their domination in the second Test which starts tomorrow in Pune.