Jadeja scored 16 runs in the first innings of the second and final Test match between India and West Indies before losing his wicket to Rahkeem Cornwall.
This file photo taken on March 5, 2016 shows Indian cricket coach Ravi Shastri speaking during a press conference prior to a training session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. (AFP PHOTO / Munir UZ ZAMAN)
It was Ravindra Jadeja’s improved batting and control on a flat deck that helped him make a cut in the playing XI ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin against the West Indies, India head coach Ravi Shastri said on Saturday.
“Look at Jaddu, his record is fabulous. You have to see what he brings to the table. He is probably best fielder in the world now and he has improved his batting like hell,” Shastri told former England cricketer Graeme Swann in an interview for hosts broadcaster Sony.
“And if you see these tracks (North Sound and Kingston). From what I have seen of this track (Kingston), I don’t think there would be much on offer for the spinners where you would need control,” said Shastri.
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“The reason why we picked Jadeja in the first Test, was in case we fielded, and the track was damp, with his pace, he would have made life little awkward for the batsmen. He could have been used on the first session of play on Day One.
Terming Ashwin as world-class and admitting it was a difficult call to make, Shastri said: “That was the reason why we picked Jadeja even though Ash (Ashwin) is a world-class spinner. It is difficult decision to leave out Ashwin or Kuldeep (Yadav).”
Jadeja scored 16 runs in the first innings of the second and final Test match between India and West Indies before losing his wicket to Rahkeem Cornwall. In the first Test match, Jadeja scored a defiant half-century and took two wickets, helping India win by 318 runs in Antigua.
(With inputs from IANS)
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