Former Indian batter Ajay Jadeja feels it will be extremely difficult to pick one between Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja when the latter will be fit to play. Jadeja is currently nursing a knee injury and he was not picked for the ongoing tour of Bangladesh.
On the other hand, Axar Patel took five wickets in two innings of the opening Test match between India and Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chhatogram.
Patel returned with impressive figures of 4-77 in the second dig and played a key role in India’s 188-run win. Bangladesh was dismissed for 324 runs in the second innings and Patel was the pick of the Indian bowlers.
The left-arm orthodox spinner has got off to an outstanding start to his Test career as he has scalped 44 wickets in seven Test matches at an average of 13. In fact, Patel has an average of 12.43 while playing in Indian conditions as he has taken 39 wickets in six matches.
Ajay Jadeja said on Sony Sports, “All players are good. In fact, his (Axar’s) numbers are the best. What he did in this first match, whether he played in India, and the one match he got overseas now, his numbers are the best. He had an average of 12 in India, even Ashwin does not have that, no bowler has it in India.”
Both the spinners bring the same qualities to the table and Patel’s solid start to his Test career has raised India’s selection dilemma.
“It is extremely difficult to pick between Patel and Jadeja. Both are left-armers and it is not that they have different skills. Kuldeep Yadav beats the batters in the air, both of them beat the batters from the surface. They need the surface.”
Jadeja feels whosoever will perform better when the pitch is flat will have the edge over the other player in the team’s selection.
“There is no better bowler than both of them when the surface is dangerous but if the surface is flat and there is no help from the surface, then who is better between the two, that will be one factor to decide.”
“Ravindra has scored big runs in batting and Axar has shown potential. There is no comparison in fielding. Do a transition if you feel someone will get better. If you feel the game is what you have seen for the last two to four years, then go with today’s performance.”
The second Test match between India and Bangladesh will take place at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka from 22nd December.
