Former India cricketer and now expert-turned-commentator Deep Dasgupta launched a scathing attack on veteran Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja after the Test series against Sri Lanka. India, for the record, won the two-match series 1-0, with the second Test ending in a draw. While Deep Dasgupta acknowledged the fact that Ravindra Jadeja has been a great servant of Indian cricket, he also reckoned that the all-rounder’s time was up as he was not as effective as before.
Deep Dasgupta’s scathing remark on Ravindra Jadeja
Speaking on his own YouTube channel, Deep Dasgupta said, “Apart from Manav, our spinners didn’t look as lethal as we expected. I’m not saying there is no ability. On such pitches, Jadeja has always been very destructive and lethal. I thought he would be crucial on the fifth day. He has been a great servant, but it’s done now. He was not as accurate as he is. His action is very shoulder-dominant.”Â
Ravindra Jadeja ended the series with eight wickets from four innings at an average of 33.37 and a strike rate of 76.8. The former India wicket-keeper also touched upon the glaring issue of no-balls bowled by the spinners, and Jadeja in particular.
Deep Dasgupta said, “If you are not careful in the nets, it will happen. Even when I was playing, a lot of them would bowl from ahead and say it would not happen in the match, but they would repeat the same thing in the match. You need to avoid this in the nets. This issue is not new with Jadeja; it has only gotten more.”Â
As pointed out by Deep Dasgupta, the issue has become very difficult to ignore. Ravindra Jadeja bowled eight no-balls in the Sri Lanka Test series, taking his tally to 88 no-balls in Tests since 2021, which is also the highest among all spinners across the globe. The worst part is that he sometimes picks up wickets off no-balls, and this is a thing bothering him and India for quite a few years, as Dasgupta mentioned.
Deep Dasgupta urges India to keep the next set of spinners readyÂ
Having made a massive statement already on Ravindra Jadeja, Deep Dasgupta reckoned that it was time for India to develop the next line of spinners. He reckoned that Washington Sundar would be like-for-like and urged that he be made ready to take over Jadeja’s position.
Speaking on the same video, Deep Dasgupta said, “We need the next line of spinners to be ready. We need Washington Sundar to be ready. He is absolutely the same as Jadeja. So when Jadeja decides to hang up his boots, you need someone who can do the same work. We have to make sure he is ready. It is an important slot.”
Apart from Ravindra Jadeja, Saransh Jain and Manav Suthar played the second Test in Colombo. The former cricketer stated that it would be difficult to judge Saransh on one game but suggested that he works on his release.
Deep Dasgupta added, “With Saransh, it is difficult to judge anyone in one match. Yes, he has a good domestic record. But you have to build. If he plays more, we will know. I felt he was a bit more side-on. I would want to see him work on his release points. Manav was a big positive.”Â
Saransh Jain, for the record, made his debut in Colombo and picked up three wickets across both innings. Manav Suthar was by far the best Indian bowler with 16 wickets from two games at an average of 21.06, including a ten-wicket match haul in the first Test match at Galle.
Ravindra Jadeja is at a crossroads, we can say. Having retired from T20IS, he is not a certainty in ODIs, as his name for the 2027 World Cup isn’t guaranteed, as he faces form issues and a competing place with other all-rounder Axar Patel. Test is the only format he plays regularly, but now he is suffering a dip in form and stocks. He has now become a batter who can bowl a bit and not the other way around. So, that is the concern for him.
Let’s see what the future holds for Jadeja and what the team management thinks of him as well.
Also Read:Â SL vs IND: Gary Kirsten Wants Balanced Pitches for Sri Lanka