Maybe their expertise is on the wane now, but that doesn’t change the fact that these two contributed more than anyone else to India’s wins.
Cheteshwar Pujara has heaped praise on two Indian players, highlighting their contributions to Indian cricket. The duo has been pivotal in India’s immense success in the longest format and has been at the centre of things every time India achieved something big, especially at home.
Pujara talked highly of two spin wizards – Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja – who have been consistent for almost a decade. On ESPNcricinfo, Pujara stated India will never get someone as good as Ashwin and Jadeja in Test cricket.
“You can’t have the quality of Ashwin and Jadeja. I have seen a lot of spinners in the Indian domestic circuit, but I wouldn’t say that we have actual replacements for them. Yes, we do have some young talented bowlers whom we need to groom, but those are the legends of the game. I don’t think we will ever get someone as good as Ashwin or Jadeja.”
In a shocking move, India dropped both spinners from the playing XI during the first Test match against Australia in Perth. Instead, they chose Washington Sundar and went with a lone spinner in the encounter, a strategy that raised several eyebrows.
Undoubtedly, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been among the biggest match-winners of India in the longest format. The duo has been a consistent performer, especially at home, contributing with both bat and ball for a prolonged period.
Whenever the Indian team required a few wickets, the captain threw balls to them, asking them to bring those breakthroughs. Further, they saved India after they suffered a collapse in the batting department almost every time, contributing with both bat and ball.
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India were unbeaten for more than years at home before the recently concluded New Zealand series, where India were beaten 3-0. Ashwin and Jadeja were the main reason behind India’s superior dominance in their own backyard.
Maybe their expertise is on the wane now, but that doesn’t change the fact that these two contributed more than anyone else to India’s wins. And Pujara has made a valid point – replacing these two will be impossible.
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