3 Selection Headaches For India Captain Virat Kohli Ahead Of ICC WTC Final
3 Selection Headaches For India Captain Virat Kohli Ahead Of ICC WTC Final
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If one spinner, then who? Ravindra Jadeja or Ashwin?

R Ashwin And Ravindra Jadeja
R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Image-PTI

Okay, if  Virat and Ravi Shastri decide to go with four seamers and just one spinner, then the next question facing them would be,  which of Jadeja or Ashwin should they drop.

Frankly, both Ashwin and Jadeja have compelling arguments to justify their selection.

Ashwin is at the height of his powers as a Test bowler in the past 6-7 months. He played a crucial role in India winning in Australia last winter and not to forget, the champion spinner was the leading wicket-taker for India in the entire WTC cycle.

The fact that he has improved his batting in the last season and the presence of a plethora of left-handers in New Zealand’s top-six goes in his favor.

That said, Ravindra Jadeja has been the best all-rounder in Test cricket in the last three years. Since the start of 2018, Jadeja is averaging 50+ (55.57) with the bat and he gives far more assurance as a No.7 batter than Ashwin.

With the ball, Jadeja is averaging 26.07 in 16 Tests during the same period, and if not for his injury, he would have started the Australian Test series ahead of Ashwin.

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Also, Ashwin’s poor outing in Southampton in 2018, also goes in Jadeja’s favor.

As explained in the last point, if India decides to go with four seamers and just one spinner, Jadeja’s superior batting skills might just help him leapfrog Ashwin.

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