ENG vs IND 2018: Ravindra Jadeja Could Play Along With R Ashwin In Fourth Test: Virender Sehwag

Former India opener Virender Sehwag has said India could include Ravindra Jadeja in the playing eleven for the fourth England vs India Test.

Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, India have rarely played two spinners in the playing eleven during overseas Tests. In fact, in some cases they have also played a Test without a single spinner. During the tour of South Africa, Ravichandran Ashwin had played in the first two games but was dropped for the third.

Similarly, out of the first three Tests in England, India played two spinners in only game. The move, however, had backfired as both Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav went wicketless in the second Test at Lord’s. But with conditions in Southampton, the venue for the fourth Test, set to assist spinners, Sehwag feels Jadeja could finally get a chance in the playing eleven.

He also hoped that Ashwin would get fit in time for the upcoming Test.

The spin spearhead is currently nursing a groin injury and is in a race against time to get fit for the upcoming game. Ashwin was not completely fit for the third Test either. He struggled throughout the game and picked up only one wicket which fell on the last day of the Test. He bowled just one over in England’s first innings where the hosts lost their all 10 wickets in a single session. In the second innings, he bowled 22.5 overs and scalped a solitary wicket.

“Ravindra Jadeja could play along with Ashwin. India are lucky to have two spinners in their ranks who can bowl out oppositions. But it will be problematic if Ashwin is unfit as India will be handicapped if they play with only one spinner on a surface where two should play. I wish Ashwin gets fit and India field both of them. Another advantage is that both of them can bat so it will also boost the team batting,”  Sehwag told IndiaTV.

Meanwhile, Jadeja has lost his regular place in the playing eleven in recent times.  Jadeja did not play a single game in South Africa this year and is yet to play in the ongoing series.

The fourth Test will start on August 30 in Southampton.