Ashwin, Jadeja ODI future on sticky wicket

NEW DELHI: R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were the men for all seasons until June, when they landed in England for India’s defence of Champions Trophy. But their failure to help India secure the trophy has seen their stocks plummet.

India’s premier Test spinners have been left out of the squad for the ODI series against New Zealand, starting on October 22. On the face of it, it seems to be a continuation of the Indian team management pinning its faith in wrist spin over finger spin. The switch to Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has netted benefits.

Since the 2015 World Cup, R Ashwin has played just 15 of the 47 ODIs India have figured in. Jadeja has featured in 17.

Ashwin has been left out for the last three series --- Sri Lanka, Australia and now New Zealand. Jadeja was included as an injury back-up for Axar Patel during the recent series against Australia, but didn’t get to play.

But both Ashwin and Jadeja failed to make a mark in the Champions Trophy. Ashwin struggled to get into the playing eleven. He was picked only for three matches. He failed to strike against Bangladesh, and went for 0/70 in the loss against Pakistan in the final. Jadeja played five games, but returned 0/67 in the final. Ashwin picked one wicket in the tournament while Jadeja had just four from five games.

Kuldeep and Chahal have lived up to the Indian team’s mantra that taking wickets, rather than containing, is the way forward in series wins against Sri Lanka (5-0) and Australia (4-1).

However, the selectors have not explained why Jadeja and Ashwin have not been given a go even in home conditions, raising questions whether they are part of India’s limited-overs plans heading into the 2019 World Cup.

Wasn’t Jadeja the ideal limited-overs all-rounder before Hardik Pandya started making waves? Ashwin, though, seemed to suggest there could be more to his omission than meets the eye. In recent media comments, he said: “One day, the opportunity will come knocking on my door because I haven’t done too much wrong. So, when I get the opportunity, I will probably try and raise my game to the best of my ability,” he said.