Ravichandran Ashwin has offered a candid and thoughtful take on Ravindra Jadeja’s current phase, urging his long-time spin partner to shed his inhibitions and reinvent himself, much like Virat Kohli has done under intense scrutiny. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin revealed that he has repeatedly encouraged Jadeja to experiment more and step outside his comfort zone, but admitted it hasn’t been easy to convince someone whose methods have brought sustained success at the highest level.

Jadeja’s strengths are well known. He is one of the world’s most accurate left-arm spinners, capable of relentlessly hitting the same spot while extracting either sharp turn or skidding bounce. His quicker pace through the air gives batters very little time to adjust, making him a nightmare on responsive surfaces. However, Ashwin pointed out that this very strength can become a limitation on flatter pitches, where slower speeds, extra loop and variation are often required to force mistakes.

“Jadeja has particular strengths he believes in, and he won’t do anything beyond those strengths,” Ravichandran Ashwin explained. “If you expect him to suddenly bowl slower or change his method drastically, it’s not going to happen. He operates within what he trusts.”

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That, according to Ashwin, is where the internal battle lies. As a friend, he has often challenged Jadeja to think differently — to consider bowling with more flight like Bishan Bedi or Maninder Singh, or even take cues from modern operators like Mitchell Santner. Ashwin’s message is simple but powerful: failure is inevitable either way.

“If you try something new and fail, you might be dropped. But if you’re stubborn and still fail, you might be dropped anyway,” Ravichandran Ashwin said. “So why not overthink positively? Jadeja doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. He’s a lion. He’s a king.”

Ashwin also revealed that Jadeja is far more experimental in the nets than fans realise. Over the years, Jadeja has tried variations like the carrom ball during practice sessions, but has rarely trusted those options in high-pressure international matches. According to Ashwin, that hesitation — born from years of relying on proven strengths — is understandable, but not irreversible.

Drawing a parallel with Virat Kohli, Ashwin highlighted how playing without fear has transformed Kohli’s mindset during a period when pressure around his place and form was at its peak. Kohli’s ability to let go, trust his instincts and play with freedom has not only revived his performances but also strengthened his case for the 2027 World Cup.

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Jadeja, Ashwin believes, is at a similar crossroads. A wicketless ODI series against New Zealand, coupled with modest returns with the bat, has sparked speculation about his white-ball future. But Ashwin feels this is precisely the moment for Jadeja to embrace joy over fear.

“Expanding your bandwidth is difficult when you’ve relied on your strengths for so long,” Ravichandran Ashwin concluded. “But if you let go and play with happiness, things can change. Look at Virat now — he’s playing like the king of his world. That freedom is why he’s performing the way he is.”