Former cricketer Ajay Jadeja feels that India should change their batting order and allow some game time to stand-in skipper KL Rahul. He also wants the team management to give game time to Deepak Hooda and Avesh Khan in the remaining two ODIs against Zimbabwe.
Team India started the ODI series against Zimbabwe on a positive note. The visitors humiliated the hosts by 10 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan (81*) and Shubman Gill (82*) displayed a sensational batting performance and didn’t allow others to bat. Talking about Rahul, the right-hander was out of action for more than 2 months due to injuries.
He was added late to the squad so that he could get the game time ahead of the all-important Asia Cup 2022. But he didn’t get a chance to bat in the first ODI against Zimbabwe, which eventually was negative for India.
Rahul, who bats in the middle order in ODIs, might not even get a chance to bat with the kind of form Indian openers are in. The team management would also be eager to give him game time as he will play a crucial role for India in the Asia Cup 2022.
Speaking to Sony Sports, Ajay Jadeja said that India should change their batting order in the next two games and promote Rahul to open the innings as he should spend some time in the middle.
He also feels that team should find ways to give game time to Deepak Hooda and Avesh Khan, who are also part of the Asia Cup squad.
Read Also: “It was an off-game for us,” Ben Stokes absolutely fine despite England’s crushing loss in 1st Test
“Maybe the batting order will change. KL Rahul is here to get some batting practice. So the guys who are going - KL, Hooda and Avesh Khan - these are three guys who are part of that squad - one way you would look at giving them more time in the middle but if this is the batting order and he is going to walk in at four, maybe he won’t get to play a single ball on this tour.
“You could bring in any one of them. They are all good players and Avesh Khan especially, who is going to be a part of that squad. So it could be that he is rested because you want fast bowlers to be fresh. Otherwise, he would probably have made it to the side,” Ajay Jadeja said.
He added: “You have got Deepak Chahar who is coming back - so one game is not enough to look at him, Siraj who has bowled exceptionally well - numbers don’t tell you that story, Prasidh Krishna I think is a fabulous talent, one game is too short to judge anybody anyway.”
The second ODI between Zimbabwe and India is slated to take place on Saturday (20th August). It remains to be seen if Rahul promotes himself at the top of the order or not.
(Sony Sports inputs)
