Nasser Hussain Feels Promoting Ravindra Jadeja To No. 5 Was A Tactical Move

Ravindra Jadeja’s batting graph has witnessed an upward curve in the last three years, and most of his impactful scores lately have come while batting with the lower order. Hence, India perhaps thought this could be an opportune time to send Ravindra Jadeja up the order. Former England captain Nasser Hussain stated it was a well-thought-out plan on India’s part.

India’s tactic did not work as Ravindra Jadeja was snared by Chris Woakes after lunch, but it did raise multiple points with several former cricketers weighing in on India’s decision to send the all-rounder at No. 5, let alone in a Test match in England. Former England captain Nasser Hussain feels it could have been a tactical move from India.

“I don’t know the reason. I heard the debate over whether Ajinkya went to the loo. But Jadeja was ready, so he must have been told. So it was more a tactical move,” Nasser Hussain told Sony Sports during Lunch on Day 1.

“They must have wanted a left-hander in. He is a very fine player. He has got 3 triple hundreds in first-class cricket. The balance of the side still looks a little wonky in England,” said Nasser Hussain.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, on the other hand, reckons Ravindra Jadeja’s promotion could do with Ajinkya Rahane being on a possible loo break. In that case, as to why Rishabh Pant wasn’t sent ahead, Sunil Gavaskar feels the wicketkeeper batsman’s twin failures at Headingley could have had a role to play in the same.

“Ajinkya Rahane came in and sat and put on his gloves. He may have been on a toilet break. Maybe they didn’t want to send Pant. Maybe he has been demoted down the order. Jadeja has batted longer in this series than Pant,” Gavaskar said on the Sony Sports Network, not aggreeing with Nasser Hussain.

“I don’t know the reason. I heard the debate over whether Ajinkya went to the loo. But Jadeja was ready, so he must have been told. So it was more a tactical move. They must have wanted a left-hander in. He is a very fine player. He has got 3 triple hundreds in First-Class cricket. Balance of the side still looks a little wonky in England.”

 Ajay Jadeja: Team Management Has Begun Losing Faith In Ajinkya Rahane

Meanwhile, former India batsman Ajay Jadeja raised a big point, stating that Ravindra Jadeja being sent ahead of Ajinkya Rahane could be an indication that the team management has begun losing faith in its vice-captain. Ajinkya Rahane has been going through a lean patch and although he scored a half-century at Lord’s, the overall numbers have been a pale shadow of his once dominating self in overseas conditions.

“I am just thinking what Ajinkya Rahane is going through. One of your best batsmen, vice-captain of the side. Even before he has walked in, it’s like Rahane has almost got a signal, saying ‘we’re not too sure about you’,” Jadeja said on the Sony Sports Network.

“It could be the left-hander combination but I am just thinking in terms of someone who is uncertain with not a lot of runs. Before you walk in, you have got Ravindra walking ahead of you and there will be some time, whenever he walks in he is going to be thinking about it.”

While many expected Ravindra Jadeja to make way for Ravichandran Ashwin, the world No.2 bowler was asked to warm the bench for the fourth time in a row. Ravindra Jadeja, who was earlier taken to hospital for precautionary scan for suspected knee injury not only retained his place in the playing XI but the batting all-rounder was also promoted by the Indian think tank in the 4th Test match at the Oval.

Team India’s decision to promote Ravindra Jadeja to the top order failed to pay them rich dividends as the batting all-rounder perished after playing 34 deliveries. Ravindra Jadeja only managed to score 10 runs in India’s 1st essay at The Oval. After losing the 3rd Test by a handsome margin, Virat Kohli-led Team India suffered a batting collapse in the 4th Test match. Ollie Robinson picked 3 scalps while Chris Woakes picked 4 on his Test return.