Ravindra Jadeja Ahead Of R Ashwin For Australia Tests Due To Batting, Reckons Ajit Agarkar

Former India allrounder Ajit Agarkar has said he would pick Ravindra Jadeja over Ravichandran Ashwin for the tour of Australia after the Saurashtra star’s impressive show in the ongoing first Test against West Indies at Rajkot.

Ravindra Jadeja continues to impress since returning to the playing eleven for the final Test in England. After warming the bench throughout the South Africa tour and the first four Tests in England, Jadeja was finally given a chance to prove his worth in the fifth Test and he grabbed the opportunity with both the hands.

He took seven wickets in the game and scored 86 not out and 13 to show the team-management it was wrong to drop him.

He was then surprisingly called up for the Asia Cup where he impressed once again. Jadeja was not named in the squad initially but was later added to the squad as an injury replacement. And in his very first outing, he picked the Man of the Match award after picking up 4 wickets for just 29 against Bangladesh. He also played a couple of impressive knocks in pressure situations as India won the Asia Cup.

And he further pressed his case for a regular spot in the playing eleven with a stunning display against West Indies on Friday (October 5). The allrounder scored his maiden Test ton to help India post a mammoth 649 for 9.  He then went on to take a wicket off the first ball he bowled in the match to further make this game special for him. He also affected a run-out to put India well on top.

Impressed with his knock, Ajit Agarkar said that Jadeja is slowly making his case visible in a bid to grab the role of the lone spinner for Australia playing XI in Tests.

“Jadeja surely seems to be in better form. Got that really good innings in the last Test match in England. Batted well in the Asia Cup…at certain stages. And is maybe making a real case. It is an interesting one actually. Probably will get a clearer picture when India reach Australia as to who their first choice spinner is. Because you would think they would go with one spinner. And the way Jadeja has batted in these two Tests that he played surely he is ahead of Ashwin as far as batting is considered,” Agarkar told ESPNcricinfo.

“I think his approach is quite refreshing. We have kind of associated Jadeja throughout his career with playing shots and almost sometimes getting himself out prior to playing too many shots. His approach (this time) has been really good. He actually has a triple hundred in this ground in first-class cricket,” he added.

Meanwhile, India are on the front-foot in the ongoing first Test against West Indies. After scoring 649 for 9, the hosts reduced the visitors to 94 for 6 at stumps on day two.Ajit Agarkar puts Ravindra Jadeja is ahead of R Ashwin for Australia seriesAjit Agarkar puts Ravindra Jadeja is ahead of R Ashwin for Australia series