Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra on Tuesday (August 10) said that there is a “one hundred percent” possibility that veteran spin duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will play together in the ongoing five-match Test series against England.
Ashwin’s omission from the first Test in Trent Bridge has been criticized by many, as the Virat Kohli-led Indian cricket team went with a four-pronged pace attack comprising of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur with a spinning all-rounder in Jadeja.
Well, Kohli has already hinted that India might stick with their Nottingham playing XI for the second Test against England at Lord's, starting on August 12, but Chopra opined that the tourists can still go with Jadeja and Ashwin in tandem as they both can bat well too.
Chopra said on his YouTube channel: “You want to play five bowlers and don't want to compromise on your batting, I totally get it. But in that, you should definitely play Ashwin and Jaddu and both will bat well also. It will be unfortunate that you will have to leave out Shardul.”
He also believes that the pitch at the Lord's cricket ground might be conducive for spin bowling, and if the veteran spinners fail to make it to playing XI in the second Test, they will certainly play together in the rest of the matches of the ongoing Test series in England.
The commentator further explained, “It is the second half of the English summer. You are going to Lord's where a lot of The Hundred is being played, which means the pitch has been used a lot, the square is being used quite a bit. And if it is being used that much, there is going to be helpful for the spinners.
So if there is help for the spinners and if you think the forecast for five days is nice and hot, spinners have to play. So it could be as early as the 2nd Test match else in this series, we will definitely see Jaddu and Ashwin playing together. There is a match at the Oval and another at Old Trafford, the ball is going to turn in both places.”
He also feels Ishant Sharma, who was ruled out due to injury, will have to wait for his turn in the ongoing Test series, as he picked Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj as the three pace bowers for Team India.
Chopra signed off by saying, “You will play your three premier bowlers, who are Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj after this Test match - Ishant will also have to wait. That's the nature of the beast, you get injured and someone plays and ensures his place, then it takes longer for you to come back.”
