Ravindra Jadeja should look to take wickets more than restricting the run-flow: Maninder Singh

Things are not going great for India in their ongoing third Test match against England at Leeds. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Virat Kohli-led India squandered a golden opportunity and were bowled out for just 78. Further, the selection and exclusion of few players in the team have left experts and fans to question India’s strategy.

All-rounder Ravi Ashwin’s omission from three Tests is one of the hottest topics. Kohli has preferred Ravindra Jadeja and has gone with a 4-1 pace and spin combination so far. Strangely, Jadeja has not been used much with the ball and has bowled a relatively few overs picking two wickets and scoring 99 runs so far.

While there is nothing to doubt when it comes to Jadeja’s ability in all three departments of the game, the impact that he has had in the series is lesser than compared to the pacers in the team. And hence it was expected by many former cricketers and critics that Ashwin might get a look in for the third Test match.

Jadeja’s two wickets have so far come in the ongoing Leeds Test and former India spinner Maninder Singh feels the all-rounder should always look to take wickets, rather than just restricting the run-scoring. Maninder further elaborated that the captain and coach should tell the spinner in clear terms and give him the confidence of taking wickets for the team.

“What happens is that sometimes, it’s the captain and the coach who give you that confidence. I have seen for the past 20-25 years that Indian spinners feel, and I don’t know why whether it’s because of the captain or the coach giving them that feeling, that in these conditions, they just need to restrict (the run-flow).”

“Whereas I feel Jadeja and Ashwin are good enough to get you wickets on any kind of track because they are good bowlers and playing international cricket. It’s the captain who needs to give you that confidence,” Maninder Singh told ESPNcricinfo.

Captain and the coach should be clear in communication, reckons Maninder Singh

The former India spinner further recalled an old incident involving Ashwin when he toured with the team Down Under, where MS Dhoni was the captain. At that time, Ashwin had told Maninder that his role is to bowl economical overs.

“I remember R Ashwin when he went to Australia for his first tour under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, he came back and said in an interview that ‘my role was to restrict’. Now, who gave him that feeling? The captain and the coach.”

“I think if captain and coach are more positive, they will tell all their bowlers that we expect wickets from you -it does not matter what kind of surface you are bowling on,” he added.