Despite Ravichandran Ashwin’s stunning show in recent times, former India speedster Ashish Nehra believes Ravindra Jadeja is way better when it comes to all-round skills across the format. However, Ashwin played an important knock of 46 on Day 1 of the Johannesburg Test against South Africa as India managed to post 202.
Moreover, he scored a Test hundred against England last year and did well with the bat against New Zealand as well. While talking about that, Ashish Nehra said that Jadeja will get the first preference for the role when he is available.
Speaking on Cricbuzz Chatter, the former left-arm pace bowler said:
“No doubt Ashwin has scored runs, he has also scored Test hundreds. But if you see Ravindra Jadeja’s graph as a batter over the last two to three years, he is way ahead of Ashwin irrespective of the format. Even Ashwin will agree to the same. This is why Jadeja played ahead of Ashwin when both were available.”
“As a sole spinner, Ashwin is the better choice” – Ashish Nehra
Backing Ravindra Jadeja’s selection over the veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin during the Test series in England, Ashish Nehra claimed that India needed a batter who could bowl well and not the vice-versa.
“In England, Jadeja played as the fifth bowler. If he was chosen as the fourth bowler, then questions could have been raised. Initially, even I thought if one spinner had to play, it had to be Ashwin. But India had Shardul Thakur as the fourth bowler. As a fifth bowler, India needed a batter who could bowl. That’s where Jadeja has the edge. But yes, as a sole spinner from whom wickets are expected, Ashwin is still the better choice,” Ashish Nehra again added.
“It was really nice to see the way Ashwin batted. It wouldn’t have been easy as he has been dropped in recent times. His aggressive innings could come in very handy. This is where experience comes into play. He read the situation really well. This is the kind of surface where you can get out on any delivery. Unlike specialist batters, there is not as much pressure on Ashwin. He played positively, knowing very well how much additional runs matter in such conditions,” Ashish Nehra concluded.
Notably, Ravichandran Ashwin was the second-highest run-scorer for India in the first innings of the second Test. Stand-in captain KL Rahul top-scored with 50 as well.
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