'You can't trust Ravindra Jadeja' - Sanjay Manjrekar issues stark warning to Team India ahead of T20 World Cup 2024 Final

Former Indian batter and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has sent alarming bells to the Indian cricket team hours before the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, June 29.

India have not won an ICC trophy since their ICC Champions Trophy win in 2013 under the majestic captaincy of legendary MS Dhoni. However, the Men in Blue now have a golden opportunity to end their more than decade-long drought for the ICC trophy after missing the chance in the ODI World Cup 2023 last year at home.

Sanjay Manjrekar digs into Ravindra Jadeja's form ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Final

Well, everything looks great for Team India, except for Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja’s form, and ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa, Manjrekar has dropped a bombshell by highlighting the key weakness of the home side going into the title clash in Barbados.

Ahead of the IND vs SA Final in Barbados on Saturday, Manjrekar highlighted potential concerns for the Indian cricket team, as he believes that Rohit Sharma will face challenges in managing the bowling resources effectively if the Barbados surface assists the batters, especially out-of-form Ravindra Jadeja.

With a focus on the role of all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube in the summit clash against the Proteas team, the cricket pundit is against the idea of allowing Jadeja to bowl full quotas of four overs on flat decks in the final.

Manjrekar noted that Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are reliable options, and they must bowl their four overs against South Africa, but Jadeja might not be as effective, and it can add pressure on seam bowlers like Arshdeep Singh.

It will be difficult to give Ravindra Jadeja four overs: Sanjay Manjrekar

He also recalled India’s Super-8 game against Australia, where the Indian bowlers faced challenges, and suggested that Hardik must bowl his full quota of overs and Shivam Dube might need to contribute with a couple of overs to balance tactical demands during critical phases of the high-stakes encounter against South Africa, who are playing finals for the first time.

Sanjay Manjrekar was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo: “I believe if the pitch turns out very good for batting, if it is a flat deck, it will be difficult to give Jadeja four overs. India will have to turn to Hardik Pandya. That is a bit of a weakness that we saw against Australia.”

Manjrekar signed off by saying, “Hardik doing four overs, Arshdeep Singh is, too, coming to terms with his consistency. On flat pitch, seam bowling comes under pressure a bit. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will do four overs, but you can't trust Jadeja. Hardik Pandya will have to rise to the occasion, Shivam Dube might have to bowl an over or two.”

Notably, Jadeja has not contributed significantly to Team India’s journey to the T20 World Cup 2024 finals and has been under the radar, but he has been regular in the XI due to his multi-dimensional role. However, India is now certainly hoping Jadeja will blaze all guns after taking only one wicket and scoring 33 runs across seven matches in the tournament.