‘Jadeja camedownunder injured’ Easy to criticise from a million miles, says Ravi
Shastri reveals spinner had stiff shoulder before leaving India, BCCI clarifies he’s fit for Melbourne Test
MELBOURNE:THE Indian team management in Australia courted fresh controversy over handling player fitness after coach Ravi Shastri said here on Sunday that Ravindra Jadeja could not replace the injured R Ashwin in the Perth Test as he was recovering from a shoulder injury he had carried into the tour from India.
After skipper Virat Kohli defended his decision to field an all-pace attack (Jadeja was in the 13 and was a substitute fielder for long periods) triggering criticism, Shastri sprang a surprise by saying Jadeja was not fully fit. He revealed Jadeja was given an injection on his bowling shoulder last month before a Ranji Trophy game, and again had an injection after landing in Australia.
It raised questions over BCCI’S injury management and being open about fitness. The BCCI statement on December 13, before the Perth Test, listed the injuries of Ashwin (abdominal strain), Rohit Sharma (jarred lowerback) and Prithvi Shah (ankle) but didn’t mention Jadeja.
Hours after Shastri said Jadeja was only at 70% for Perth, and would be risked in Melbourne even if he got to 80%, BCCI issued a statement listing Jadeja’s fitness problems, adding: “Jadeja’s left shoulder has continued to improve and he is now available for the 3rd Test ... in Melbourne.”
Shastri told a media conference on Sunday: “Problem with Jadeja was that he had taken an injection four days after coming to Australia because of some stiffness in his shoulder. It has taken a while for that injection to settle down. He had some stiffness when he was in India as well but he did play domestic cricket after that. Then he felt the same on coming to Australia and he was injected.”
The BCCI release said Jadeja took injections twice. Shastri claiming Jadeja could be risked for the MCG Test starting on Wednesday raises concerns that if his injury flares up, India would be a man short, especially with Ashwin to be monitored for “48 hours”. Chinaman bowler, Kuldeep Yadav, is also in the squad.
Shastri said Jadeja’s recovery was slow. “It has taken longer than we expected and we wanted to be careful. Last thing you want is someone breaking down after 5-10 overs and then we would be stuck for players to pick for Melbourne and Sydney. We felt he was 70-80% fit and we didn’t want to risk him in the second Test.”
The BCCI statement explained Jadeja’s omission for Perth. “In the lead up to the Perth Test, the management and the all-rounder were of the opinion that the intensity of his bowling in the nets could have been higher, to match the standards required for such an intensely fought series. For this reason, he was not considered for selection for the 2nd Test.”
Fitness is a concern. “We will have to evaluate fitness in the next 24-hour period… We will evaluate Ashwin over the next 48 hours. Rohit looks good and has made a very good improvement, but we will see how he pulls up tomorrow. Hardik Pandya is fit,” Shastri said.
“Pandya gives you an option (of playing five bowlers) but he has not played much first-class cricket. He has just played one game after injury so we have to be very careful before we actually decide whether he plays or not.” MELBOURNE:RAVI Shastri was dismissive of the flak the India team has been copping, taking a dig at critics for “firing blanks while sitting million miles away”. India were humbled by Australia in the second Test in Perth by 146 runs, prompting Sunil Gavaskar to question the team management’s selection policy and demanding more accountability from captain Virat Kohli and the head coach.
Shastri didn’t take any name but in his inimitable style rubbished the criticism. “When you are millions of miles away, it is very easy to fire blanks.
Their comments are too far away and we are in the southern hemisphere. We have to do what’s best for the team, as simple as that,” said the India head coach.
When asked about selection conundrum, Shastri said the only dilemma is whether to play Ravindra Jadeja or not, unlike what some experts made it out to be. “Apart from Jadeja, I don’t think there was any other selection dilemma and if there was, it is not my problem,” Shastri replied with his usual swagger.
When asked about Jadeja’s on-field spat with Ishant Sharma that was caught on camera during the second Test, the coach said, “I am never surprised (by such coverage). I love coverage, bring it on, as simple as that. In many ways, it can inspire a team to come together and let us hope it does.”
Expectedly, Shastri backed Kohli whose on-field behaviour has been questioned again after getting into an altercation with Australia skipper Tim Paine. “He was fantastic. What is wrong
I am never surprised (by such coverage). I love coverage, bring it on. In many ways, it can inspire a team to come together and let us hope it does.
R SHASTRI, On Ishant-jadeja spat
with his behaviour? Of course, you can question but as far as we are concerned, he is an absolute gentleman,” said Shastri.
Asked if India had lost momentum in Perth, Shastri said that the team is in a unique position at 1-1 in the series — something they hadn’t experienced in South Africa or England. “We have not lost any morale in Perth. We knew we had our chances there in Perth as well, so we are ready. We are at 1-1 in a Test series in Australia.”
“Very rarely have we been in a position (this year) where we are 1-1, and it is not often for a team, when they travel overseas, that they are placed 1-1 with two Tests to go. So the boys know what they can do and what they are capable of. The potential lies ahead. We will be third time lucky (after South Africa and England),” said Shastri.