India might have missed a trick by not playing an extra seamer ahead of the combination of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the World Test Championship final in 2021 against New Zealand at the Rose Bowl in Southampton but former chief selector MSK Prasad feels that the Asian Giants can’t ignore the possibility of playing both the spinners when Inida face Australia in the WTC 2023 final in London from June 7.
India’s move to pick two spinners — Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja — in the 2021 WTC final against New Zealand backfired as pacers dominated the game in overcast conditions at Southampton.
In the 2021-22 series in England, Ashwin did not play a single game in a 5-Test series which ended in a 2-2 draw but the off-spinner has 18 wickets in 7 matches in England at an average of 28.
Prasad highlighted that there is an option of playing Jadeja as a specialist batter and that Ashwin can’t be ignored, considering his ability to pick wickets on all surfaces.
“Jadeja has been so good of late that he can play as a specialist batter. It is a tricky call considering what both can bring to the table, it is hard to ignore. Ashwin with his 400 plus wickets and he is someone who is who can bowl on any surface. If it comes to that, it will be a very tough call,” MSK Prasad told PTI news agency.
However, the former chief selector said the conditions will play a major role in deciding whether India opt for 2 spinners or not.
Jadeja played 4 Tests in 2022 and picked up just 6 wickets but he chipped in with the bat, hitting 170 runs. And Jadeja’s ability to step up with the bat will hold in good stead to get into the XI ahead of Ashwin.
“We went with two spinners and three fast bowlers in the mind but subsequently there was rain, we should have changed our plans, but somehow we stuck to the same playing eleven. But that is in the past.
“It all depends on conditions at The Oval. This is the actual story of the movie, the pitch and conditions. We don’t know how they will be over five days, so we should not pre-fix our mind and understand the conditions and back your instincts,” he added.
Jadeja has headed to London, running high on confidence after having played a central role in Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2023 triumph. The India all-rounder began training with the squad in Sussex on Thursday. Jadeja picked up 20 wickets for the Super Kings and hit the winning runs in the IPL 2023 final.
