The Indian Cricket team has a tough mission as they strive to dodge another series defeat in South Africa. They are set to battle in the second and concluding Test in Newlands, Cape Town, beginning on Wednesday. They didn’t fare too well in the opening series and must elevate their performance in all areas to achieve their first Test victory at the site.
India’s batting in the initial Test wasn’t its best. Still, their bowling performance grabbed more attention. After tallying an average score in the initial innings, India’s bowlers let the South African team score a substantial 163-run lead. This widened the gap for the visiting team.
The performances of debutant Prasidh Krishna and all-rounder Shardul Thakur were criticized, while Mohammed Shami’s services were sorely missed as well. In the build-up to the second Test, Team India have named Avesh Khan to the squad, and they also have Mukesh Kumar available for selection as well.
In foreign circumstances, India’s bowling lineup has generally consisted of four pacers and a spinner, especially in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia).
The Men in Blue were compelled to play Ravichandran Ashwin in the opening Test, despite the fact that Ravindra Jadeja is often the first option in these circumstances. The former’s potential availability for the second Test makes the team combination rather intriguing, even though he was ruled out due to a neck spasm.
Ten years ago, Jadeja made his only Test debut in South Africa, as he amassed 6-138 at Kingsmead, Durban.
In light of this, let’s examine the reasons Ashwin and Jadeja should be included in the starting lineup for the forthcoming second Test matchup with South Africa.
1. A mix of local and subcontinent conditions
Cape Town and Centurion offer stark contrasts in conditions, especially noticeable during the Boxing Day Test. At Super Sport Park, encircling clouds and a spirited pitch led the game to conclude in just three days. Not to mention, the ongoing rain kept the ground moist, shielding it under covers in the run-up to the match.
However, the Newlands Test is expected to have a very promising weather prediction, with highs of up to 34 degrees predicted for each of the five days of play. Early photos of the field already display surface fractures and areas of generally dry grass.
Like other sites in South Africa, the surface will undoubtedly provide something for the pacers in the way of bounce and movement, especially with the new ball.
Nonetheless, as the innings goes on, spinners should be used. With two of the top red-ball spinners in the world in India, the persistent heat will undoubtedly cause fissures that may be exploited by tweakers. The Indians could not ask for better playing conditions.
2. Shardul Thakur is struggling to make an impact
Had Shardul Thakur been an important member of the side, it would have been difficult to decide whether to include both Ashwin and Jadeja. When circumstances are taken into consideration, the case for two spinners almost seems irrefutable, given the pace-bowling all-rounder’s previous struggles to make an impression.
With the exception of a remarkable stint at Wanderers, Thakur’s tour to South Africa in 2021–2022 was uneventful. In six innings, he managed just 59 runs as India blew a 1-0 advantage to lose the series.
The all-rounder, who is mostly chosen to provide depth in both bowling and batting in foreign circumstances, has not been successful in either role in a long time. His sole noteworthy innings after the South Africa tour was a fifty in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Oval against Australia. He has also not been among the wickets very often.
at 19 overs, Thakur scored a 1-101 at Centurion. The strain that Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah had managed to apply was frequently undone by his spell. The Proteas batsmen took full advantage of the conditions because Thakur lost control and did not make the most of them.
3. Jadeja’s dual role in Tests
Recently, Ravindra Jadeja has emerged as one of Team India’s most potent red-ball hitters; yet, his improved batting stats have also negatively impacted his bowling statistics. Even though he’s still very good on subcontinent surfaces, where everything is set up for him, he hasn’t had much of an effect when playing away from home.
Jadeja will thus have a difficult task managing the spin department by himself. Furthermore, Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are known to hunt in pairs when the circumstances are favorable for spin bowling.
No one is a better fit than Ashwin to take advantage of the pressure that Jadeja creates with his flawless line and length than someone on the opposite end.
With the circumstances in the first Test being the complete reverse of what a spinner wants, Ravichandran Ashwin was essentially powerless. He still had the most economical bowling numbers for India, though, with 1-41 in 19 overs.
If he can exert influence in harsh alien surroundings, just think of what he can accomplish with Jadeja at his side on a superior surface.