Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali lauded Ravindra Jadeja’s stoic presence with the bat in the Lord’s Test that ended in a 22-run defeat for India. However, Ali placed questions over the veteran left-arm spinner’s bowling presence, having picked only three wickets in as many matches in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
After India’s precipitous collapse chasing 193 against Ben Stokes’ late on day four and on the final morning of play, Jadeja’s vigil stood between an English win and India’s hopes to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Batting with No. 10 Jasprit Bumrah and last man Mohammed Siraj, who battled for 84 balls between them, Jadeja stood unbeaten on 61 off 181 deliveries.
With the rest of the top-order offering meek resistance, Jadeja’s solidity was also present in the first innings of the match when he carved 72 at number six. The southpaw’s batting form has carried on from Edgbaston, where he struck twin half-centuries, effectively becoming only the third Indian after Sourav Ganguly and Rishabh Pant to register four successive fifties in England.
While the plaudits have come his way for his mature batsmanship, Jadeja has not quite taken the strides as India’s primary spinner for the tour.
“He just knows what he’s doing. I think he’s done it for many years. I think he’s been amazing with the bat this series, obviously. I think with the ball, he hasn’t quite got the wickets, but he does what he does. He’s very tight. He can bowl, but he’s not outstanding…
“I think now he’s at the peak of his batting. Bowling-wise, I think he just doesn’t have the wickets. With the tally, I think he’s bowled well, he just doesn’t have the wickets,” said Ali in an interaction with India today.
With Washington Sundar roped in as the second spin-bowling all-rounder, India have benched their wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in three successive outings. Ali said he was keen to see Kuldeep get a look in.
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“I would like to see Kuldeep in the team, but I don’t know who for. Washington has bowled well, Jadeja batted well. So it makes it difficult to bring Kuldeep Yadav in the side. I would like to see Kuldeep in, but I don’t think they can fit him in,” Ali added.
