Former Indian cricketer and commentator Deep Dasgupta has shared his verdict on the veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s performance after India’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, which the visitors won by 1-0.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Deep Dasgupta acknowledged Jadeja as a great servant of Indian cricket and asserted that his time was up as he wasn’t completely as effective as he used to be.
“Apart from Manav, our spinners didn’t look as lethal as we expected. I’m not saying there is no ability. On such pitches, Jadeja has always been very destructive and lethal. I thought he would be crucial on the fifth day. He has been a great servant, but it’s done now. He was not as accurate as he is. His action is very shoulder-dominant,” Dasgupta said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Jadeja concluded the two-match series with eight wickets from four innings. Further, the former stumper also stressed India’s concerning factor of no-balls by spinners. Notably, India bowled 13 no-balls in the Colombo Test, with Jadeja and debutant Saransh Jain contributing to 11 of those across both innings.
“If you are not careful in the nets, it will happen. Even when I was playing, a lot of them would bowl from ahead and say it would not happen in the match, but they would repeat the same thing in the match. You need to avoid this in the nets. This issue is not new with Jadeja; it has only gotten more,” he added.
Additionally, the former keeper-batter insisted that someone like Washington Sundar be ready as a like-for-like replacement for Jadeja, urging the next line of spinners to be ready for their opportunities.
“We need the next line of spinners to be ready. We need Washington Sundar to be ready. He is absolutely the same as Jadeja. So when Jadeja decides to hang up his boots, you need someone who can do the same work. We have to make sure he is ready. It is an important slot,” he concluded.
