IND vs PAK: Nobody Saw Ravindra Jadeja Coming At Number 4: Robin Uthappa

In the Asia Cup Group A match against Pakistan, left-arm spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was moved up to number four, a move that no one could have anticipated, according to India batsman Robin Uthappa.

As India decided to stick with Dinesh Karthik’s finishing skills, left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was kept out of the starting lineup, making the top six batters all right-handed.

When Rohit Sharma was bowled out at the conclusion of the eighth over Jadeja was unexpectedly moved up to position four and batted until the last over, scoring 35 runs in 29 balls.

Mohammad Nawaz Should Have Bowled One Over In The Powerplay: Robin Uthappa

“Nobody I think saw that (Jadeja at No. 4) coming. It was a good call. It was a good move. Something that no one really foresaw. I actually quite like that decision.

“Going for a bit of Pakistan’s perspective, in hindsight, they could have bowled that one over of the left-arm spinner (Nawaz) in the first six, because they had two right-handers (batting) and it was the right time,” said Uthappa on ESPNcricinfo.

“It looked like Babar (Azam) took the safer option to bring in the spinners immediately after the powerplay. He could have brought one of them on during the powerplay. (It) would have been a great match-up for Rohit and Kohli.

In the first 10 balls to the spinners, they nudge the ball around and they don’t really have a great strike rate at that point in time, and that proved right again today (India were 38 for 1 after the powerplay). That should have encouraged Pakistan.”

“(Bhuvneshwar’s contribution) was right up there with Hardik Pandya’s contribution as well. His story of resurgence has been a long and arduous one.

“He has gone from two years from an injury, not being able to figure out what the injury was to work day in and day out at the NCA — and I am telling you, those are not easy days, you have a surgery, you do rehab; the rehab part is the most difficult.

“The surgery is the easiest — and to come back and do that boring stuff day in and day out, months on end, is extremely hard“, Uthappa further added.

Also Read: IND vs PAK 2022: “It Is Good A Youngster Did Not Play That Shot” – Gautam Gambhir On Virat Kohli’s Dismissal In Asia Cup Match vs Pakistan