India Cricket Team started their IND vs SA 1st Test with Ravichandran Ashwin. Rohit Sharma during the toss said that Ravindra Jadeja has suffered a back spasm and is therefore unavailable for the match. As a result, Ashwin plays the match as India’s solitary spinner. On the other hand, former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar said that he would have picked Ashwin over a fit Jadeja.
The Ashwin vs Jadeja debate has been going on for quite sometime. With fast and bouncy pitch conditions in South Africa, India cannot afford to play both spinners. As a result, it was a head to head battle between the two. It is a given fact that Jadeja is the first choice spinner for India in Test in foreign soil/
“With the advent and inclusion of KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper batsman, I think the point about Ravindra Jadeja playing as a batsman primarily for strengthening the batting order is not required. I feel it is a good chance,” said Sanjay Bangar after the Toss.
But Sanjay Bangar harbours a different stream of thought. He believes that since KL Rahul is playing as a wicketkeeper batter, there is no point in keeping Jadeja predominantly as a batter. India already has a strong batting lineup. In such a condition, Ashwin as a bowling all-rounder would be a better fit in the team.
“Even if Ravindra Jadeja would have been available for selection, I would have went and picked Ashwin ahead of Jadeja,” Bangar concluded.
