'He Is Not Jadeja...,’ Ex-India Opener Questions Rohit Sharma & Agarkar's Team Selection
Jadeja will miss the second Test. (X.com)
Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes that India will face a significant setback in the second Test in Vizag against England due to the unavailability of Ravindra Jadeja. Aakash is of the opinion that Washington Sundar, who is added to the Test squad as a replacement of Jadeja, lacks the same all-round qualities as the number one ranked Test all-rounder.
Jadeja, along with KL Rahul, has been ruled out, and Sarfaraz Khan was called up as cover for Rahul. Aakash underlined Jadeja's irreplaceable role as the number one ranked Test all-rounder and highlighted his significant contributions with both bat and ball.
Despite India's loss in the first Test, Jadeja once again proved his mettle with the bat and ball. The southpaw top-scored for his team with 87 runs in the first innings and also took five wickets with the ball.
The absence of Jadeja, who contributes in all three departments, is considered a major setback for Rohit Sharma's team ahead of the second Test.
Aakash raised doubts over Sundar's ability to replicate Jadeja's impact, stating that Sundar can provide control with the ball but may not be as effective in taking wickets. While acknowledging Sundar's proficiency as a batter and his accuracy in bowling off-spin, Aakash emphasized that he is not a direct replacement for Jadeja.
"You are going to miss both Jadeja the batter and Jadeja the bowler. Jaddu is this team's life. There is no doubt that he is the World No. 1 Test all-rounder. You got such a big first-innings lead because of Ravindra Jadeja. He also picks up a minimum of two to three wickets and is a gun fielder. When Jaddu is not there, you feel you should pick a bowler who can bat as well. So you start thinking about Washington Sundar. He will give control but won't be able to give wickets. He might give as much batting, he is a very good batter, but he is not Jaddu," said Aakash Chopra in a video shared on his YouTube channel.
In the four Tests that he has played so far in his short career, Sundar boasts an average of 49.83 with the ball and 66.25 with the bat. His bowling average is on the higher side but he's a much better bowler than what the statistics show.
Sundar's strengths lie in his ability to maintain an accurate length and not allowing the batters from getting too close to the length. As a reliable left-handed batter, Sundar can counter the threat posed by England's left-arm spin against the likes of Tom Hartley and Jack Leach.
Additionally, Sundar's batting capabilities offer flexibility, allowing him to be moved up the order if needed.
These attributes make the 24-year-old a suitable option to replace Jadeja for the second Test. Sundar could serve as the perfect third spinner alongside Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel.
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