"Little bit of insecurity...": Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja’s return for Adelaide Test blocked by Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India National Cricket Team batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has opined that the veteran all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin won't return to India playing XI for the second Test against Australia National Cricket Team.

Sanjay Manjrekar believes that the Indian team management will continue with Washington Sundar as a sole spinner and not include Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the side for the Adelaide Test because there is a 'little bit of insecurity still with the bat.'

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Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin benched in Perth Test

The Indian team management shocked the cricket world in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opener in Perth as they decided to bench both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

Ashwin and Jadeja bring a plethora of experience with them, along with exceptional skills with the ball and bat, but they weren't selected. Instead, the young spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar was given the nod ahead as the sole spinner in the line-up.

Ravichandran Ashwin has featured in 10 Test matches in Australia and has bagged 39 wickets at an average of 42.15 and, with the bat, has scored 384 runs.

Talking about Ravindra Jadeja, he has played 4 Test matches in Australia and has scored 175 runs and picked 14 wickets at an average of 21.78. He used to be the first-choice spinner of the team in the SENA Tests, but that spot has now been given to Washington Sundar by the Gautam Gambhir-led coaching staff.

Ashwin, Jadeja, will they come back and have that one spinner replacing Washington Sundar? - Sanjay Manjrekar

Speaking on Star Sports, Sanjay Manjrekar stated that Indian team management might think about playing an extra seamer in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, but they are likely to continue with four pace-bowling options - Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Sanjay Manjrekar further said that Washington Sundar won't be dropped because the team management has a lot of trust in his batting abilities.

“So when it comes to the bowling attack, they might ponder on should we play an extra seamer in a pink ball Test match,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.

“The spinner may not have much but Nitish Kumar Reddy has done enough to be that fourth seamer. And if the pitch is really lively, his skills with the ball could be useful. Ashwin, Jadeja, will they come back and have that one spinner replacing Washington Sundar? I don't think that will happen because there is a little bit of insecurity still with the bat although it came good," Sanjay Manjrekar added.

I think it would be very unfair to change the combination - Deep Dasgupta

Meanwhile, the former cricketer Deep Dasgupta feels that changing the bowling combination after one game would be unfair.

He opined that there would be no changes made to the team as all the bowlers have done a good job.

“I think it would be very unfair to change the combination. I mean India is already playing with three seamers. Plus Nitish who is an all-rounder,” Deep Dasgupta said on Star Sports.

“And obviously Washington Sundar, one spinner. So I don't think they will change this combination. The seamers have done well. Nitish has done well the limited opportunity that he got to bowl. And as far as Washington is concerned, listen after one match it will be very very unfair to change anything,” Dasgupta added.