Sanjay Manjrekar questions Ravindra Jadeja’s performance in opening Test, says he should have done more

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar questioned Ravindra Jadeja’s performance in the opening Test match against England, which the home team won by five wickets at Leeds, Headingley on Tuesday. Jadeja scored 11 runs in the first innings whereas he scored an unbeaten 25 in the second innings.

In both innings, Jadeja had to bat with the lower order and he didn’t receive support from the other end. The left-arm orthodox went wicketless in the first innings and could only take a single wicket in the second dig. Harry Brook was dropped by Rishabh Pant when he was on 46 off Jadeja’s bowling in the first innings. Furthermore, Jadeja himself dropped Ben Duckett’s catch when he was on 15 in the first essay.

The experienced all-rounder could not utilise the rough outside the left-hander’s off-stump and he was taken to the cleaners by Ben Duckett.

“One of the reasons why India picked Ravindra Jadeja over Ravichandran Ashwin or even Kuldeep Yadav, was because of his batting. That also, to my perception, is not the same that was 3-4 years back. So, there would be maybe some discussion around it, because India need help from the spinners, and if Jadeja is not giving it, then they will have to play a second spinner. Can they play two spinners in England? All those questions will come up,” Manjrekar said on ESPN Cricinfo.

Manjrekar added that Jadeja should have done more with the ball, especially in the second innings.

“I know there were one or two chances that Rishabh Pant should have picked up, but Jadeja should have done more. Just one wicket to show for after that long toil in conditions that were not English, but closer to home, so yeah, I was disappointed in his performance,” Manjrekar added.

The second Test match between India and England will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham from July 2nd onwards.