Aakash Chopra Denies The Possibility Of Playing Ashwin And Jadeja Together In The Eleven

Former India opener, Aakash Chopra feels that it is not possible to have Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the same eleven against Australia. Chopra makes these comments considering the pitches to be offered in Australia.

Ashwin played just one game on India’s previous tour to Australia. He picked 6 wickets and then was ruled out due to an injury. Jadeja played the last two matches- picked 7 wickets and scored a fifty. Kuldeep Yadav played in the last game and picked a 5-wicket haul.

Ashwin is the front-runner: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra opines that Ravichandran Ashwin would be the first choice spinner for the Adelaide Test. Observing the conditions in the day-night Test match, Chopra believes that it would not be feasible to play two spinners.

Jadeja is still recovering from the hamstring injury and the concussion he suffered in the first T20I against Australia. Kuldeep Yadav couldn’t grab a single wicket in the first warm-up game versus Australia A.

In his YouTube video, Aakash Chopra said, “In my opinion, they can definitely not play. Let’s be honest in the first pink-ball Test you will be able to play just the one spinner and he also may just have a restrictive role. Because the grass is left longer in pink-ball encounters, so the ball will not grip on a 10-mm grass surface.

“So, if it is not going to grip there is no chance that you can actually field two spinners. Only one of the two will play, with Jaddu’s injury situation, I feel Ashwin is the front-runner. Kuldeep Yadav did not take a single wicket in the side game.“

The 43-year-old adds that only the pitch in Sydney will offer turn; hence, India could field two spinners only at the SCG. Otherwise, the template in overseas matches for India has been three seamers with a lone spinner. Earlier in the year in New Zealand Jadeja and Ashwin, played one match each in the 2-match series.

“So, I don’t see both of them playing, not in the first Test match, not in all four Test matches either. If you get a wicket where you feel that the ball is going to turn, it happens at times in Sydney, you might take a chance but 3 fast bowlers and 1 spinner will be my team. Hanuma Vihari can bowl a few overs, that’s what I actually feel,” Aakash Chopra added.

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