‘It doesn't really matter’ – Shardul Thakur explains the reason behind Ravindra Jadeja’s promotion to No.5 in fourth Test

Jadeja scored 10 before Chris Woakes dismissed him.

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Ravindra Jadeja
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Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Ravindra Jadeja’s promotion to No.5 in India’s fourth Test against England at the Kennington Oval in London raised a lot of eyebrows. On Thursday, September 2, Jadeja came to bat above the likes of vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant. The southpaw started with a couple of fours and got to 10 before Chris Woakes accounted for his wicket in the last ball of the 30th over.

Jadeja’s dismissal left India at 69 for the loss of four wickets with Virat Kohli being the set batter in the middle. In the meantime, fast bowler Shardul Thakur opined on why Jadeja was sent ahead of the specialist batters, Rahane and Pant. He said that Jadeja is a match-winner and isn’t much different from Pant in terms of game-changing abilities.

Thakur lauds Ravindra Jadeja

“I think everyone was thinking about it for a long time and whether Rishabh goes or Jadeja goes, it doesn’t really matter because both of them are match-winners. We have seen that on a number of occasions Jadeja has scored crucial runs and coming to England,” Thakur was quoted as saying in the post-day press conference.

In the first two Tests, Jadeja got scores of 56 and 40 and looked in pretty good touch with the bat in hand. Shardul talked about his ability to occupy the crease and absorb the pressure. He also said that Jadeja was sent up the order to maintain the left-right combination.

“If you saw his batting in the first Test and also at Lord’s in the first innings, he’s been trying to stay on the pitch, he’s batting patiently, and just to use that left-right combination we sent him up the order,” he added.

India didn’t have a great day with the bat as they were shot out for 191 in 61.3 overs. Kohli scored a 96-ball 50 to give his team some respectability at the top. His knock was laced with eight fours before Ollie Robinson got rid of him in the penultimate ball of the 43rd over.

Thakur also chipped in with a 36-ball 57 with seven fours and three sixes. At the close of play on Day one, England were trailing by 138 runs with seven wickets left in their first innings.

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