Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Ravindra Jadeja’s second-innings spell in the third Test between India and England in Rajkot. He said that the left-arm spinner’s pace is ideally suited to wearing Indian surfaces as well. However, India set England a 557-run target on the fourth day (Sunday, February 18). Jadeja registered figures of 5/41 in 12.4 overs as India bundled England out for 122 to complete a comprehensive 434-run win and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra added, “If you see his pitch map of today, yesterday, the previous match, or the match before that, it is always the same, and that is this bowler’s specialty. The key to his success is that he pitches the ball continuously in just one place. If there is something on the pitch, he is the one who extracts the most from it. He might not be as effective in the first innings but as soon as the pitch slows down in the second innings, all bowlers struggle, but his optimum pace is absolutely perfect for these pitches.”

“That is very important because if you ask any spinner to bowl quicker, as soon as he does that and goes 10 kph over his optimum speed, he loses accuracy and isn’t able to bowl long spells as the shoulder starts paining,” he again stated.

Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow, and Joe Root after the openers had removed to reduce England to 50/5. He later dismissed Ben Foakes and Mark Wood to complete his five-wicket haul.

“We missed Ravindra Jadeja in the last match and Jaddu is an asset without doubt. 33/3 – if he had not been there, you would have had to send someone else. 33/3 could have been 45/4. If you are 45/4, how will you win the match?,” Aakash Chopra concluded.