Twitterati question Ravi Shastri for his comments on Jadeja's fitness concern

Why did the Indian team not field a spinner at Perth was a question most people were seeking an answer for as Nathan Lyon concluded the game with eight wickets. While most thought and said that the team misread the conditions coach Ravi Shastri had another story to tell. He said that while Ravi Ashwin was unavailable for the game Ravindra Jadeja was 60-70% fit thus they couldn’t go with him either.

Several former Indian cricketers, some even his former colleagues from the commentary box have been critical of the Indian team’s selection. Shastri like always had an answer for this as well. Responding to questions about criticism, he said: “millions of miles away it’s very easy to fire blanks”.

In this age of digital media, it isn’t easy to get away with anything. The head coach said Jadeja wasn’t match fit and Twitterati immediately questioned his logic, the authenticity of the answer and why at all was the all-rounder used as a substitute fielder in that case.

Talking of Jadeja, Shastri said there was “some stiffness in the shoulder”. “When you’re millions of miles away it’s very easy to fire blanks. The problem with Jadu [Jadeja] is that he had taken an injection four days into coming to Australia, because of some stiffness in the shoulder and it took a while for that injection to settle down,” Ravi told reporters on Sunday.

“So when you look at Perth, we felt that he was maybe 60-70 per cent fit and that we didn’t want to risk that in Perth. If he [Jadeja] was 80 per cent fit here [MCG], he will play. He had taken an injection even in India but he played domestic cricket after that. It took longer than we expected, hence we had to be careful.

“The last thing we wanted was someone breaking down after five or 10 overs and then we are stuck for players to pick for Melbourne or Sydney. We’ll have to evaluate [Jadeja] fitness over a 24-hour period and take it one step from there, and also (evaluate) the conditions.”

Here is how the fans reacted to Ravi Shastri’s statement:

"We felt he was about 70-80% fit, and we didn't want to risk that in Perth. If he is 80% here, he will play, that's the answer." Ravi Shastri on Ravindra Jadeja. Also Ravi Shastri on fitness cut-off for admission to Indian XI

— Sidvee (@sidvee) December 23, 2018

Even if Ravindra Jadeja was unfit for the Perth Test, didnt the Indian team have the option of playing Kuldeep Yadav if they were looking to play a spinner? #AUSvIND #ravishastri

— Sanjjeev (@Sanjjeev) December 23, 2018

#RaviShastri
Its has been some political agenda taken over the @BCCI.@RaviShastriOfc is the most impotent, arrogant & ill mannered coach is the history of indian cricket.

The virat – shastri is leading an authoritarian leadership.

Time to reform.#ViratKohli #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/3Zk1YjJQxe

— Nishanth (@Imfiskie) December 23, 2018

I was named in the 13-man squad and fielded as a substitute during both the Australian innings. But if Ravi Shastri says I was injured so I must be injured. Boss se pange kaun le. #AUSvIND #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/xZvVEGxzKR

— Sir Jadeja (@SirJadeja) December 23, 2018

Accept it https://t.co/2XGm8nPPy1 and his puppet, that it was a selection blunder. If Jadeja wasn't fit from the start of the tour, why was he named in the 13-man shortlist and why was he made to field the majority of time while fielding.#AUSvIND #INDvAUS #RaviShastri

— Dhruvin Shah (@dhruvinshah739) December 23, 2018

"Are We Blind" ? Ravi Shastri to save his Skin Said That non Choosing Ravindra Jadeja ,He is 70% Fit Only. As we all Know That Ravindra Jadeja Gone to Australia after Taking Wickets In Recent Ranji Matches. KKRao pic.twitter.com/Hw6IqMspj2

— k kumar rao (@kkrao3107K) December 23, 2018

Just saw Ravi Shastri interview when asked about Kohli’s behaviour. Now I know why Kohli campaigned to have him as coach. Two aggressive angry cunts like two peas in a pod. #AUSvsIND #Kohli #RaviShastri #twoangrycunts

— Sticky Wickets (@thewhole22yards) December 23, 2018

Ravi Shastri is spinning a new round of tales to cover up the selection blunder!

— Venkat Parthasarathy (@Venkrek) December 23, 2018

Ashwin remains injured
Jadeja carrying a niggle

Give injury report by adding the names of players who won't be playing next match, so that none can question your team selection

Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri Masterminds
👌👌👌 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/s1Uck56zQK

— Ashok Jammy (@AshokJammy_) December 23, 2018

Ravi Shastri says Jadeja was 70-80% fit for the Perth test, so he was not picked, Kohli said that the pitch was green so he opted to go with 4 fast bowlers. Something is really wrong with the team management. If Jadeja was not fit, why was he on as a sub. fielder? @BCCI #AUSvIND

— 🅴🅿🅸🅲 🅶🅰🅼🅴🆁 🎅🏻🎄 (@DespacitoAt399) December 23, 2018

How can you ask an unfit player to substitute another player on field?#lier #RaviShastri #PerthTest #INDvAUS @BCCI

— Sandeep Prabhu (@Sandeep_Prabhu1) December 23, 2018

Is going properly in Team's selection for overseas tours for Indian Team.. Why they are selecting half fit players!?! Ravi Shastri explanation on why Jadeja was not picked was a shocker.. He was 60%fit and they couldnt select him/Bhuvi Not fully fit! Whats goingon? @BCCI #AUSvIND

— பிரேம்😎 (@Premkumar_R) December 23, 2018

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