Jadeja’s impressive return may encourage spin rethink
COMEBACK Among wickets after 442 days away from ODIs, allrounder stakes claim for regular spot
MUMBAI: Comebacks aren’t easy, especially in the India cricket team that seems to be in a constant state of flux. Ravindra Jadeja however exploited the only opportunity to come his way after missing 27 matches to again stake his claim in the ODI team less than a year before the World Cup.
Jadeja’s return was most unexpected, and only triggered by a spate of injuries within the India team. Drafted into the squad as a like-for-like replacement for the injured left-arm allrounder Axar Patel, Jadeja scalped 4/29 against Bangladesh on Friday to announce his return after missing out on fifty-over cricket for 442 days.
Before Friday, Jadeja had not taken an ODI wicket for 463 days, with his last scalp coming against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy semi-final on June 15 2017. It was at the Champions Trophy, in fact, where Jadeja had lost the selectors’ confidence after picking only four wickets from five matches at an average of 62.25 and an economy rate of 5.92.
The last straw was probably in the ODI against the West Indies in Kingston on July 6, 2017 where Jadeja had gone wicketless. It turned out to be Jadeja’s last ODI for well over a year. That, somehow, also paved the way for young wrist-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav to make their mark in the ODI team.
RARING TO GO
The satisfaction of performing on comeback was writ large on Jadeja’s face as he admitted to keeping a mental note of the days he had spent away from the ODI team during the post-match press conference.
“I will always remember this comeback because I returned to the team after a gap of around 480 days. The earlier gaps have not been this long,” he said adding, “I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. What my ability is, I need to sharpen it. I don’t have to show anyone what I can do. I need to challenge myself.”
Jadeja however didn’t want to think too much about the future that involves the World Cup in England next June. “The World Cup is still some time away, we’re going to play a lot of matches before that, and I can’t comment on that yet. My ambition is to perform the way I did today whenever I get the opportunity. My focus is to perform in this series,” he said.
Jadeja missed the first four Tests of the recently-concluded England tour but performed brilliantly in the fifth Test at the Oval where he scored a defiant halfcentury and took seven wickets. Though his omission in the fourth Test on a flat pitch in Southampton had raised few eyebrows, Jadeja said he is happy to make the most of whatever chance he gets.
“I was playing Test cricket. Last few series were away so I didn’t play in it. I was concentrating on what is in my control, how to improve my game in away conditions. When I got a chance in England, I did well. Here, unfortunately, Axar (Patel) got injured and I got my opportunity and did well,” he said.
TURNING POINT?
If Jadeja continues to get good returns, pressure would be on wrist-spinners Chahal and Yadav to raise their game. Both appear first-choice spinners for the World Cup at present but Jadeja could take heart from India bowling coach Bharat Arun’s statement during the South Africa tour where he had said Jadeja and R Ashwin were ‘not out of the race’.
Given how Chahal and Yadav were negated by England’s batsmen in the ODIs preceding the Tests, Jadeja knows he still can regain the selectors’ trust. But for that he needs to be consistently picked to play in the next few months. Friday’s show has probably kickstarted that process.