Ravi Shastri Reveals Why Ravindra Jadeja Was Picked Over Ravichandran Ashwin?
Sep 3, 2019 at 10:50 AM
India’s head coach Ravi Shastri has revealed why Ravindra Jadeja was picked ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin in the ongoing Test match series against West Indies. Shastri stated Jadeja was drafted into the playing XI for his control on the flat decks. The head coach revealed that Jadeja could have come into the game if India had bowled first in the opening Test match.
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Jadeja was able to stand tall to the trust shown in him by the team’s think tank as he scored a fine knock of 58 runs in the first Test match. Shastri said that the wicket was damp and with Jadeja’s pace he could have made life difficult for the batsmen.
Jadeja has delivered the goods.
“The reason why we picked Jadeja in the first Test, was in case we fielded, and the track was damp, with his pace, he would have made life a little awkward for the batsmen. He could have been used on the first session of play on day one,” India coach Ravi Shastri told the host broadcaster SPN Sports before the start of second day’s play in Jamaica.
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin was not at the peak of fitness on the England tour. Ashwin had scalped seven wickets in the first Test match but veered off the track in the upcoming matches. In the Southampton Test match, Ashwin could only take three wickets whereas Moeen Ali scalped nine wickets in the same match.
On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja’s record speaks for himself. He is in great form in the recent past and was able to deliver the goods.
“It is a difficult decision to leave out Ashwin or Kuldeep (Yadav),” Shastri explained. “Look at ‘Jaddu’, his record is fabulous. You have to see what he brings to the table. He is probably best fielder in the world now and he has improved his batting like hell. And if you see these tracks (in West Indies)… from what I have seen of this track (in Jamaica), I don’t think there would be much on offer for the spinners where you would need control.”
Ravindra Jadeja will look to continue the good show with both bat as well as the ball for the Indian team. Jadeja will like to make the most of his opportunity.