Making right move in search of spin options
AHMEDABAD: It is not an uncommon sight to see a sub-continent team pack their bowling attack with spinners while playing at home. Still, it was interesting to see India field three spinners against Sri Lanka in the second One-day international on Thursday.
But the move to include both Ravindra Jadeja and local youngster Axar Patel, both left-arm spinners with a similar approach, comes as a result of stand-in skipper Virat Kohli’s desire to experiment in this series.
India last played three tweakers in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh earlier this year. But there was variety with leg-spinner Amit Mishra combining with Ashwin and Jadeja.
The move on Thursday went against convention as similar spinners have struggled to find a place together in the playing XI, the biggest example being former Australia leg-spinner Stuart McGill, who was kept out of the national squad for a major part of his career as Shane Warne dominated the show. MAKING IMPACT However, the move paid rich dividends with the trio sharing five wickets. It also showed the intent of the team management to try out the slow-bowling options before embarking on the tour of Australia followed by the World Cup.
The tall Patel, 20, playing in only his sixth ODI, made the most of the opportunity, producing the best performance among the three spinners. He was a picture of consistency, containing the batsmen on an excellent batting pitch to return two for 39 in ten overs.
Patel castled Dilshan, who was going great after hammering Ashwin for 17 runs in the final Powerplay over. He returned to get rid of Thisara Perara, who was beaten by the loop and turn attempting a big shot to play onto the stumps.
In contrast, Jadeja, playing his first game of this series, proved expensive. The Sri Lanka batsman repeatedly employed the sweep as Jadeja offered width to the right-handers.
He was predictable on the good pitch and skipper Angelo Mathews punished him, sweeping him for three consecutive fours in the 40th over, which went for 20 runs. Ashwin though made up for his expensive start to finish with two for 49.
With Ashwin and Jadeja looking certain to travel to Australia, Patel seems to be giving Indian selectors a good option, alongside the experienced Mishra.