Axar Patel And Ravindra Jadeja Are Different In Their Variations Despite Similar Looking Styles: Pragyan Ojha

Former India cricketer Pragyan Ojha has heaped praise on young spin all-rounder Axar Patel and spoke about the similarities and differences between him and Ravindra Jadeja. Axar recently made his Test debut in the second Test match against England in Chennai, picking a fifer on his debut.

However, Axar came into his full form in the third Test match with the pink ball, as he returned figures of 11/70, helping India win the Test in under two days and go 2-1 up in the four-match series. Axar had replaced Ravindra Jadeja in the Indian squad, as the Saurashtra all-rounder is nursing a dislocated thumb in his right hand, sustained during the SCG Test against Australia.

When You Compare Axar Patel And Ravindra Jadeja, Both Are Similar But Yet Very Different: Pragyan Ojha

According to Pragyan Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja’s ability to push the ball in the air using his shoulder makes him special, while Axar Patel is learning the same tricks, but his use of variations makes him unpredictable.

“Everybody was a little worried when Ravindra Jadeja was not available, especially after the first Test match, where Nadeem could not deliver. It was only his second Test match. Having said that, when you compare Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, both are similar but yet very different.

Jadeja is a guy who can turn the ball and the ball coming in with the arm is his variation. For Axar Patel, his go to ball is the one that comes with the arm, comes straight. And his variation becomes the ball that turns away. So he is different,” Ojha explained.

Ravindra Jadeja Is Dangerous Because He Knows How And When To Vary His Pace Of Delivery: Pragyan Ojha

The former India spinner believes that Axar could achieve the same prowess with international experience. However, he explained the most basic difference between Axar and Jadeja in simpler terms.

“In the Pink Ball Test or in Chennai, they [England] were trying to play expecting the ball to turn but it was coming straight and hitting the pads and it was creating the bat and pad gap, getting those batsmen bowled. That is his natural, stock delivery. And his variation is the ball that turns.

But for Jadeja, it’s totally different. When Jadeja came in, he was bowling quicker through the air but over the years, after playing so many test matches, he started varying the pace. That’s when he became more dangerous. He had that pace in the ball, accuracy, everything. But once you start varying the pace, that’s when you become more difficult for a batsman,” he explained how the pace variations made Jadeja more dangerous.

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