Zaheer Khan Feels There Is Healthy Competition Between Ravichandran Ashwin And Ravindra Jadeja
Aug 7, 2021 at 5:24 PM
Zaheer Khan noticed that the healthy competition between spin all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja had proved to be beneficial for India in recent times. He added that the duo is working hard on honing both bowling and batting skills to claim the one spot available for a spinner in overseas Tests.
India has not preferred playing Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja together in an overseas Test but they played together in the WTC Final lost by India. In England, they have done it only once in 2014 at Manchester without much success apart from WTC Final. But this time in the England Tests, things might be different and was evident as Ravichandran Ashwin was dropped from the line-up to incorporate 4 pacers.
Zaheer Khan Feels There Is Healthy Competition Between Ravichandran Ashwin And Ravindra Jadeja
Zaheer Khan said that the duo is trying to improve their games as in overseas conditions, only one spinner can play in the XI as there is competition between the two to seal a spot.
“I feel the healthy competition between Ashwin and Jadeja has been good for India. Both of them are constantly trying to improve their games. In overseas Tests, only one spinner can play in the playing XI on most occasions. Here Jadeja should get full marks. He has worked very hard on his game. “
” Even today, when he was batting, we could see he had the right approach. I mean, when KL Rahul was at the crease, he played sensible cricket. When English bowlers used bouncers, he did not lose his concentration and played with control. Even when he started to play aggressively in the end, he knew which areas he could target and backed himself,” Zaheer Khan added.
The 34-year-old off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the second-highest wicket-taker for India and fourth overall, in the four-match Test series in Australia. He claimed 12 wickets in 3 Tests, including one four-wicket haul. In the four-match home series against England, Ravichandran Ashwin was the highest wicket-taker. He signed off the series with 32 scalps in 4 Tests, including 3 five-wicket hauls.
Zaheer Khan: Ravindra Jadeja’s Superior Ability With The Bat Helped Him Clinch The Spot
Zaheer Khan opined that Ravindra Jadeja’s current batting form helped him get a spot in the playing XI ahead of his spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin. Since 2018 in 15 overseas Test matches, Ravindra Jadeja has scored 461 runs at an average of 41.90, including five fifties.
In the same period, the frontline batsman’s averages are Virat Kohli – 40.83, Rishabh Pant – 37.46, Cheteshwar Pujara – 34.69, Ajinkya Rahane – 34.16, Hanuma Vihari – 34.11, and Rohit Sharma – 29.50.
” Whenever we are talking about Ravindra Jadeja, his numbers in recent times tell us a clear story. There were some question marks when Jadeja made it the playing XI for this Test ahead of Ashwin as the lone spinner. His superior ability with the bat helped him clinch the spot.
“So far in the game, we have not seen much spin bowling from England, and India also used Jadeja for just three overs in the first innings. In this sense, we can say that Jadeja has done his job well until now,” concluded Zaheer Khan.
Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has reached a significant landmark on day three of the first Test against England in Nottingham. Ravindra Jadeja came to bat fairly early on day three as Rishabh Pant departed after a quick cameo. However, the southpaw became the fifth Indian all-rounder to amass more than 2000 runs and take 200 scalps.
The other four all-rounders to achieve the milestone are Kapil Dev, Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, and Harbhajan Singh. In 131 Tests, Kapil Dev accumulated 5248 runs at 31.05 and collected 434 wickets. Overall, Ravindra Jadeja is the fifth-fastest all-rounder in Test cricket history to reach the milestone behind Sir Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, and Ravichandran Ashwin.