ASIA CUP 2018: JADEJA MAKES ROARING COMEBACK
DUBAI: Ravindra Jadeja made a splash on his One-day International comeback after over a year, claiming four wickets to lead a clinical bowling performance as India defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in their first Super Four game of the Asia Cup on Friday. Skipper Rohit Sharma sealed the win with his second half-century in a row.
Barely a fortnight ago, Jadeja, recalled for the final Test at the Oval due to R Ashwin’s injury, hit 86 not out and took seven wickets He was not included for the previous Test on a turning track.
Flown in as injury replacement, Jadeja led the way with pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar taking three wickets apiece to dismiss Bangladesh for 173 in 49.1 overs.
Rohit Sharma (83 no -- 104b, 5x4, 3x6) raised 61 runs with Shikhar Dhawan (40) and 63 for the third wicket with MS Dhoni (33)
as India eased to 174/3 in 36.2 overs.
Jadeja’s success could lead to a re-think for the team management that feels only wrist spinners can deliver in limited-overs. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav were economical, but didn’t take a wicket, which showed finger-spin can’t be
ignored ahead of the 2019 World Cup. The 29-year-old last played an ODI on the 2017 tour of the West Indies. He didn’t take a wicket in two games. It came after a disappointing ICC Champions Trophy final against Pakistan at the Oval for Jadeja and R Ashwin, which led to Virat Kohli seeing wrist-spin as the X-factor.
Bangladesh batsmen looked exhausted after the defeat against Afghanistan in their final Group B game in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Jadeja removed Shakib Al Hasan for 17 – sweeping to square leg – and made life difficult for the batsmen with pace and accuracy. He bowled 43 dot balls and his unwavering line and length also saw Mushfiqur Rahim fall reverse-sweeping. India next play Pakistan on Sunday.