Ravindra Jadeja Will Always Be In An Indian Test Team: Zaheer Khan

Former India pacer, Zaheer Khan heaps high praises for Ravindra Jadeja after the all-rounder showed brilliance with the ball and in the field on Day 2 of the ongoing Test match in Sydney against Australia.

Jadeja dismissed Marnus Labuchagne, who scored 91, as the right-hander edged a delivery from the off-spinner to Ajinkya Rahane at the first slip. With Labushcagne’s wicket, Jadeja broke a 100-run third wicket-partnership – which Zaheer Khan feels initiated Australia’s collapse as the hosts slipped from 206/2 to 338 all out.

Jadeja took three more wickets – that of Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon – and capped his terrific day with an outstanding run-out of Australia’s centurion, Steve Smith. He ran from the boundary line picked it up from about 30 yards away from the stumps, and hit the bull’s eye, catching Smith short despite a dive.

“India’s comeback in this match started from there only. And he is a player who bowls and fields very well and has improved his batting as well. So, from that point of view, you can say that he is always in the game in a Test match,” Zaheer Khan told Sony Sports Networks.

“And when he got the run-out after taking all those wickets, you come to know what his value is. There will be very few players who can run that fast, pick up the ball and run the batsmen out.”

Rahane should have used Jadeja more on Day 1: Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan also opined that Jadeja was underused with the ball on the first day of the Test match. The former seamer believes Rahane should have bowled the left-arm spinner more than he did- Jadeja bowled just 3 overs on Day 1 – which seemed like a defensive move. The 2011 World Cup winner reckons the CSK all-rounder impacts the game in all the departments.

“He has bowled well in any case, and I was feeling he was under bowled yesterday. Ajinkya Rahane could have given him a few more overs; he was tried to be used more as a defensive spinner. But his entire career has been like that; he always shows that he is ready whichever way the captain wants to use him, and he will always try to make an impact on the game,” feels Zaheer Khan.

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