Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has hailed the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. While Shastri feels Ashwin can easily walk into India’s best Test XI of all time, he believes Ravindra Jadeja gives nightmares to the opposition’s batters with his accuracy.
Both Jadeja and Ashwin have been immaculate in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. Jadeja has scalped 17 wickets in two matches, which is the most in the series so far whereas Ashwin has bagged 14 wickets.
Jadeja, who is making a comeback after a long gap of five months, took 10 wickets in the Delhi Test match. Furthermore, he has won the Player of the Match in both matches of the series.
Shastri stated that Ashwin is lethal in the tough Indian conditions and his ability to contribute with the bat while batting in the lower middle order makes him an Indian great.
Shastri said on ICC review, ”I never compare eras, but the record that he (Ashwin) has – especially in Indian conditions – would make him a favourite to get into that (all-time XI) squad. In Indian conditions he’s something else. I mean, you’ve seen some great spinners in the past. He’s right up there. And the fact that he can get you runs at crucial stages makes all the difference.”
On the other hand, the former Indian all-rounder showered praise on Ravindra Jadeja for his consistent performances. Jadeja has shown a massive improvement in his batting graph in the last couple of seasons.
“He (Jadeja) will start to get the credit (he deserves) now. There’s no question about it. The last year, a year-and-a-half, he’s been simply outstanding because he’s realized his potential. He gives you nothing and it’s a nightmare (for opposition batters). Especially if you’re not in good form, and you are in the opposition as a batsman, you’ll have nightmares. You’ll have Jadeja in your dreams because the guy gives you nothing.”
Shastri continued: “If it’s a track where the ball is up and down, he can be even more dangerous than Ashwin. Ashwin anyway has the guy (with his) skill. But here, this guy (Jadeja) can have you on edge because one ball will skip through, one ball will turn, and he gives you nothing. His accuracy is so good that there are hardly any loose balls on offer.”
Shastri also hailed Jadeja for working on his batting and delivering the goods for the team.
“People, and he himself, didn’t actually realise how good a player he was until he actually got a couple of big scores in Test matches. I remember we pushed him up the order as well to give him that responsibility and he has not looked back. When you see his technique, he plays the ball late, he plays in straight lines and he is just a fabulous cricketer.”
Meanwhile, India is in a mess at 84-7 at Lunch of the third Test match at Indore.
