Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has questioned Ravindra Jadeja’s role amid the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. Jadeja scored 27 runs in the second ODI at Rajkot and returned with figures of 0-44 in eight overs he bowled as India suffered a seven-wicket loss.
Furthermore, the all-rounder also missed an easy run out chance. Srikkanth reckons India missed the services of Axar Patel, who is not part of the squad. Nitish Kumar Reddy was played in the final XI in place of injured Washington Sundar. Earlier, Ayush Badoni was named as Sundar’s replacement in the squad after the latter suffered a side strain injury.
“Jadeja is one of my favorite. But he also does not seem to know what to do. He is also caught in two minds, to attack or flight, he does not know. It is an open secret (to bring Axar back). Why not play three spinners and three pacers? Is there a rule that the bowling all-rounder should only be a medium pacer? It is impossible to get a replacement for Hardik Pandya. You cannot. Axar would have been an ideal candidate for today’s match. The sixth bowler was missing today,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel ‘Cheeky Cheeka’.
Srikkanth questioned Axar Patel’s absence from the ODI squad despite the all-rounder performing consistently in the white-ball formats.
“Axar has a terrific record. He played the Champions Trophy and he did very well. He won the T20 World Cup for us. Suddenly, he is nowhere. Where is Axar Patel? Where is he? The team is suffering at the end of the day.”
Srikkanth said India’s bowling effort was mundane, barring Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj’s opening spell.
“Except for Harshit Rana and Siraj’s first spell, it was very ordinary bowling. There is no option of a sixth bowler at all. Is Nitish Kumar Reddy an all-rounder? I am not criticising. If he is a batter, are they telling him only to bat? Who can bowl once in a while. Leave Shubman Gill, if you are the captain, will you also give him seven to eight overs? Kuldeep was not getting his rhythm at all and there was the need of a sixth bowler. If he went for 13 in two overs, give him two more overs maybe. Maybe he would get a wicket,” he said.
The third ODI between India and New Zealand will be played at Indore on Sunday.
