New Delhi, Nov 21, 2024 Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has picked Ravindra Jadeja as the key spinner for the visitors in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener Test against Australia in Perth. Shastri has placed Jadeja ahead of veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in his preference because of his consistent performances over the years for India. On paper, Ashwin, with 114 scalps, is the second-highest wicket-taker in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, only behind Nathan Lyon (121 wickets).
Jadeja, on the other hand, has 89 wickets across 17 Tests and has a better average and economy than Ashwin and Lyon. “No, I go horses for horses. I go on current form.
So, I’ve not really been in the nets to really know. But if you look at this Test match, the way you’re going to start off, I’ll be very tempted to still go with Jadeja ahead of everyone else because of what he’s done over the years. And then take it from there,” Shastri said on Star Sports Press Room.
The former India all-rounder predicted the series result in India’s favour while calling the first two crucial for both teams. “Prediction is, I think India has a great chance in the first two Test matches, as do Australia. And that’s why I think I kept saying again and again, after the first two Test matches, if you see one team having the upper hand, I think they will go on to dominate.
The first two Tests are crucial. Both teams can win the Test matches,” Shastri said. On Gautam Gambhir’s coaching p.
