India vs Windies 2018: Time to Consider Ravindra Jadeja as First Choice Spinner - Dilip Doshi

Former Indian spinner Dilip Doshi believes it is time to consider Ravindra Jadeja as the first choice spinner. Jadeja has done well in the recent past and is generally right on the money with his line and length. In fact, Jadeja is not someone who spins the ball a great deal. However, he gets most of his deliveries in the corridor of uncertainty. Furthermore, Jadeja has shown a better promise with the bat in the recent past.

Jadeja had scored a valiant knock of unbeaten 86 runs in the fifth and final Test match at the Oval against England, to keep India in the game. Subsequently, he was also able to do well in the Asia Cup as he scalped four wickets in the Super Four game against Bangladesh.

Ravindra Jadeja is in good form.

“If there is a provision to play only one spinner, it should be Jadeja because he is most likely to deliver on the line and length basis consistently and keep the runs down as well. The captain can shut the game or at least control the game from one end. Jadeja picks himself automatically and has proved that he should be there [in the side as the first spinner],” Dilip Doshi told Mid-Day.

In fact, Jadeja has continued his form with the bat as he scored his maiden Test hundred against the Windies. Thus, the former Indian fast bowler Ajit Agarkar also thinks on the same ground that Jadeja should be given priority because of his batting.

On the other hand, it is noted that India’s premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin tries to experiment with his variations. However, Dilip Doshi is not impressed with it.

“You have to decide whether you are an off-spinner or leg-spinner. As soon as you experiment, you allow batsmen to get off the hook. Test cricket is all about consistency,” said Doshi

In fact, Ravichandran Ashwin was not at his best in the fourth Test match against England in Southampton. Ashwin had failed to land his deliveries in the rough area whereas Moeen Ali was able to do so.

“Moeen Ali was successful [for England] because he has a classic side-on action and could relentlessly bowl in a particular area which troubled us. Our spinner [Ashwin] experimented a lot and gave them the freedom. The series could have been 3-2 and not 4-1 had our bowlers not allowed the last four [England] wickets to flourish. The body language showed we became complacent.”

Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja has had a merry time in the last one month. He has done well for the team and would like to continue with his good form.