Ravindra Jadeja Will Be The X-Factor For India In WTC Final - Monty Panesar Picks The All-Rounder Over Ravichandran Ashwin

Former England spinner Monty Panesar has picked Ravindra Jadeja to play over Ravichandran Ashwin if India decides to go with one spinner in World Test Championship final versus New Zealand, which commences from June 18 Southampton.

Monty Panesar reckons the all-rounder will be the ‘X-factor’ for Virat Kohli in the WTC final and has been in superb form in the IPL 2021 for the Chennai Super Kings, after missing the home Test series against England, in which R Ashwin was named the Man of the Series for his all-rounder show.

The former left-arm spinner believes that Jadeja’s containing bowling, and the left-arm angle will give India the slight edge they would need. Jadeja has made remarkable improvements in his batting too in the past few years – since the start of 2017, he averages 50.27 with the bat with 11 fifties and a century to his name.

“For me, Ravindra Jadeja will be the X-factor. He’s been in terrific form in the IPL. If India decides to go with just one spinner, I’ll go with Jadeja instead of R Ashwin as the spin-bowling option. Jadeja’s defensive bowling skill and being a left-armer give him an upper hand,” Monty Panesar told India TV.

I think the ICC should prepare a neutral wicket: Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar opines that the ICC should prepare a neutral pitch for the WTC final. He asserts that we have seen spin-friendly tracks in India, and England will dish out pace-friendly pitches in the following 5-Test series, hence the ICC should prepare the surface that suits both types of bowlers, as well as the batters so that the match goes into the last couple of days.

“Spinners will also play a crucial role in the WTC final in Southampton. We’ll have to see how the ICC prepares the pitch for the event. For the Test series, England will obviously go with a green wicket. But for the WTC final, I think the ICC should prepare a neutral wicket. It’ll be the perfect advertisement for the WTC if the final spans over 4 or 5 days,” the 39-year-old added.

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