Ravindra Jadeja recently became the 4th cricketer to achieve 4,000 runs and 350 wickets in Tests.
Deep Dasgupta, a former India wicketkeeper, has encouraged the Indian team management to replace veteran Ravindra Jadeja in Test cricket, claiming the 37-year-old is no longer the side's first-choice spinner.
Dasgupta went on to say that Jadeja's diminishing effectiveness with the ball was evident in his performances during the two-Test series in Sri Lanka last month. Dasgupta bemoaned Jadeja's inability to contribute significantly on the fifth day of the second Test in Colombo, despite the fact that Jadeja claimed four wickets.
Jadeja picked up eight wickets across four innings. However, according to Dasgupta, the Indian spin unit, except young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, lacked attacking qualities on tour.
“Apart from Manav, our spinners didn’t look as lethal as we expected. I’m not saying there is no ability. On such pitches, Jadeja has always been very destructive and lethal. I thought he would be crucial on the fifth day. He has been a great servant, but it’s done now. He was not as accurate as he is. His action is very shoulder-dominant,” Dasgupta said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Furthermore, Ravindra Jadeja and Saransh Jain bowled a few no-balls, affecting their and other bowlers’ rhythms. Manav Suthar, though, did not overstep as India struggled to close out Sri Lanka after enforcing the follow-on.
“If you are not careful in the nets, it will happen. Even when I was playing, a lot of them would bowl from ahead and say it would not happen in the match, but they would repeat the same thing in the match. You need to avoid this in the nets. This issue is not new with Jadeja; it has only gotten worse,” added Dasgupta.
Dasgupta picked Washington Sundar as his choice to replace Ravindra Jadeja in the Indian Test XI as a spin all-rounder as Suthar emerges as the premier left-arm spinner.
“We need the next line of spinners to be ready. We need Washington Sundar to be ready. He is absolutely the same as Jadeja. So, when Jadeja decides to hang up his boots, you need someone who can do the same work. We have to make sure he is ready. It is an important slot,” he added.
Jadeja is one of the best all-rounders in the world today and, during the Sri Lanka Tests, became only the fourth player to achieve the double of 4000 runs and 350 wickets in Tests.