Former English spinner Monty Panesar doesn’t shy away from expressing his opinions and views on various aspects of the gentlemen’s game. He recently picked India’s X-factor for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand at the Rose Bowl in Southampton starting June 18.
BCCI has announced a jumbo 20-man squad for the upcoming WTC final, as well as the five Tests against England in the United Kingdom in August-September, earlier this month. The squad comprises several superstar players who will be in the headlines during the pinnacle clash.
Ravindra Jadeja can take India to the title – Monty Panesar
However, the former English spinner Monty Panesar named Ravindra Jadeja as the one player to watch out for in the marquee finale. Panesar, who played a key role in England’s famous 2-1 Test series triumph versus India in their own backyard in 2012, feels the spinners will have a role to play at The Rose Bowl, Southampton and Jadeja might take India to the title.
“For me, Ravindra Jadeja will be the X-factor. He’s been in terrific form in the IPL. If India decides to go with just one spinner, I’ll go with Jadeja instead of R Ashwin as the spin-bowling option. Jadeja’s defensive bowling skill and being a left-armer give him an upper hand,” Monty told India Today.
Ravindra Jadeja has been in sublime form in all departments across formats and will take the field for the WTC final on the back of a splendid IPL 14 season, where he amassed 131 runs at 162.32 and picked up 6 crucial wickets along with several fielding heroics.
Monty Panesar stated that the management of the Indian team should any day pick Jadeja over off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on English conditions.
Squad: Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav
