India will take on New Zealand in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in Southampton from the 18th of June. Before that, former left-arm spinner Maninder Singh has said that the team management should play both the spin bowling all-rounders – R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. He also claimed that this could be the decision that defines the Test match for India as well.
However, India have a world-class pace attack with the players like – Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav. And, they prefer to play one specialist spinner along with the strong pace attack in overseas conditions, especially in SENA countries. But the recent success of both Jadeja and Ashwin could see India playing with them both as they both have done exceptionally well with both the bat and the ball. And, that could give the team the ideal balance in the summit clash as well.
ALSO READ: Indian Women’s Team Gets First Dose Of COVID-19 Vaccine
“If I was in the team management, I would play both Ashwin and Jadeja. They can be a huge factor. There is going to be wear and tear anywhere as the Test match progresses. I keep talking to my friends there (in England) and they say it has become hot, these summer temperatures will soar. So if it is going to be the way it is then moisture won’t be that much effective. The pitch will dry out and spinners will start getting purchase and both the spinners are of good quality,” added Maninder Singh.
Notably, India had played the duo of Ashwin-Jadeja only once in England that too way back in 2014 but the veteran believes that, Jadeja’s recent success as a lower-order batsman and the emergence of Rishabh Pant as a match-winner in the middle order, could help India with the luxury of playing with five specialist bowlers, including two of their ace spinners as well. He also added that Ashwin had improved quite well in recent times.
READ HERE: Saba Karim Reveals The Name Of Potential Candidate For India Captain
“Jadeja’s recent form with the bat has been exceptional. He has worked on his batting a lot. He gives you an extra option of having another bowler. The confidence of scoring runs has rubbed off on his bowling. Ashwin is a class act. Ashwin has improved a lot and he can now get you wickets on any track, which was not the case when he first started touring overseas. He never used to give you the feeling that he was going for wickets. He didn’t have the belief. But now, with the experience he is a different bowler,” concluded Maninder Singh.
