England vs India: Forget fighting, we will dominate the series, says Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja has resounded the confidence bell ahead of the start of the Test series.

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Ravindra Jadeja
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Ravindra Jadeja celebrates a wicket with his teammates. (Photo Source: Twitter)

His place in the playing XI is no more guaranteed, thanks to the new generation of spinners’ coming of age. But 36-Test veteran Ravindra Jadeja still gives the Indian bowling department a sense of strength. The left-arm spinner spoke up ahead of the first Test between India and England which will begin on Wednesday, August 1, at Edgbaston.

Conversing with ESPNcricinfo during an interview on the eve of the first match, the outcome of which will be crucial for the rest of the series, Jadeja said India have a better chance to win in England this time compared to 2014 because they have more experienced players. “If you see, most players in our team have played a minimum of 25-30 Test matches. Experience counts in Test cricket,” the 29-year-old said.

Praising England’s fast bowling strength, Jadeja said the Indian team which toured England in 2014 was not that experienced. “We had no prior experience on English wickets, its conditions. Now we are more experienced in those aspects and since we have played a fair bit of Test cricket, I think this time we can dominate them, let alone just fight in the series.”

On the question of the current Indian side is high on its confidence after the South Africa series earlier this year, Jadeja said India have a very good fast bowling attack now and that makes them favorites to dominate the series.

Have India’s fast bowling options put a lot of pressure on their spinners? Jadeja refused to buy the theory. He said the choice of bowlers depends on the given conditions and it is then when team combinations are decided upon. “It is not that the ball doesn’t spin in England. We have seen in the past that it does. So the team combination is decided particularly after seeing which bowler will be effective,” he said.

‘Anything is possible’

Given the hot weather conditions in England, does Jadeja feel that there could be a place for two left-arm spinners in the team? “Anything is possible. Kuldeep (Yadav) has done well in the past and it gives India more options. Unlike many other teams that struggle to find replacements after a top fast bowler or spinner retires, we have everything now. That makes me convinced that if there is any team at the moment which can beat England in their own den, it is India,” Jadeja said.

He, however, laughed when asked if he had any message for England or their premier fast bowler James Anderson. “He is my friend now,” said the left-arm who has taken 171 wickets in Tests so far, 38 of which have come against England.

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