Teams Don't Want To See Ravindra Jadeja In The Indian Side: Graeme Swann

Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann praised India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for his good show in New Zealand. The visitors have won four games on a trot and are one game away from handing a clinical white-wash to the Kiwis. Jadeja has been hard to get away with and the batters have been mostly under the shackles.

Swann went a step ahead and said that other teams don’t want the inclusion of Jadeja in the Indian side. With pace all-rounder Hardik Pandya still nursing an injury, Jadeja has been the go-to man for Virat Kohli. His accuracy coupled with good pace has made life difficult for the opposition.

Ravindra Jadeja has spun his web over the Kiwis

“All the other teams in the world do not want Jadeja to be playing in that India team. He’s very very important player. From an English point of view, we’d very happy (if he doesn’t play),” Swann said in the post-match show in Star Sports. The English athlete added that having Jadeja would help the men in blue in bigger grounds. The T20 World Cup will be played in Australia and Jadeja can be the chief architect in such scenario.

“He’s doing well in New Zealand conditions on smaller grounds, in Australia, it’ll be the exact opposite, those are big grounds. If you as a spinner can bowl well on smaller grounds then you can do better on the big one,” Swann said. Jadeja’s figures against the Blackcaps has been impeccable. He has picked five wickets at an economy of 5.88 in the shortest format of the game.

One of India’s greatest match-winners Anil Kumble too, lauded Jadeja’s contribution. “Jadeja is a quality player. He gives you 4 overs, he gives you with the bat and he’s one of the best fielders,” said Kumble. The cricketer has been a gun fielder with a strong arm and safe hands. As it stands, his white-ball credentials will only get better in due time.