Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has shed light on Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s underwhelming performances in the second Test against New Zealand, which the hosts lost by 113 runs at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Saturday.
While Ashwin picked five wickets on a pitch which had a lot of assistance for the spinners, Jadeja bagged three scalps in the second essay after going wicketless in the first innings. On the other hand, New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner picked a total of 13 wickets in the match and played a key role in the Kiwis’ victory.
Ashwin and Jadeja have an impeccable record while playing in home conditions but haven’t been at their absolute best in the two Test matches against New Zealand.
“You believe spin is our strength. However, are we bowling spin well? That is another big question because we were outbowled. Of course, Washington Sundar changed the game totally. He bowled a few overs and picked up a lot of wickets. You say ‘brilliant’ when you see his performance,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“However, if Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are playing together and don’t do that well, you start feeling, although Ravichandran Ashwin was the Player of the Series recently. He works his way out. However, the question is going to come very soon that there will be a transition for them as well. They are the aging spinners,” Chopra added.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav was dropped to make way for Washington Sundar in the second Test. The reputed commentator feels the wrist spinner hasn’t been treated properly by the team management.
“In such a scenario, I feel India are missing a trick. Ashwin will go first because he is more aged. Jadeja is fitter and younger as well. So he will stay for longer. You need to start grooming. You started giving a chance to Washington Sundar now but you didn’t do the right thing with Kuldeep,” he said.
Chopra feels Kuldeep can deliver the goods against the opposition as he has got the right skills.
“You are not preparing Kuldeep and he is that guy because modern-day batters surrender against such wrist spin. However, we are not playing him. We are not being honest with him in a sense. He is being sent for injury management although he is available for the Mumbai match,” Chopra observed.
The third and final Test match between India and New Zealand will be played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai from November 1 onwards.
