Spinners will win in Kanpur, but pace all-rounders are needed in Australia, a ‘war’ can break out between Ashwin and Jadeja

New Delhi. India defeated Bangladesh by 280 runs in the first Test match. The heroes of the victory were all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. But do you know that after two months when the Indian team will be playing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Ashwin and Jadeja will be seen fighting with each other for a place in the playing eleven. India will need a pace all-rounder on the fast pitches of Australia, who is not at least in the current team selected against Bangladesh.

History is witness that defeating Australia in its home has never been easy. Only a team that is not only balanced but also in good form can do this. Balance in Australia means that the team’s pace attack should be good and there should be depth in batting. That is why when the team will be selected for the Australia tour, a pace all-rounder will be looked for. Currently, India does not have any pace all-rounder who fits in the playing eleven. But the team management will have to fit one of the pace all-rounders from Shardul Thakur, Nitish Reddy and Shivam Dubey in the team.

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The entry of a pace all-rounder in the team will mean that only one of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will get a place in the playing eleven. Ashwin deserves to play in any team and on any ground on the basis of his/her ability. Jadeja is the number-1 all-rounder in the ICC Test rankings and his/her usefulness cannot be questioned. But the problem is that if both of them are selected in the playing eleven against Australia, it will mean that India will have only three pace bowlers. Whereas many times a fourth pace bowler is needed in Australia.

Who has the upper hand, Jadeja or Ashwin?
If India gives more importance to batting in the spin all-rounder on the Australia tour, then Jadeja’s claim will be stronger than Ashwin. If the Indian team gives more importance to bowling than batting, then Ashwin will be the first contender and Jadeja will be after him/her. However, fans of Ashwin and Jadeja would like India to keep both the players in the playing eleven.

Karsan Ghavri, who has played 39 Test matches, believes that India should play with one pace all-rounder and one spin all-rounder in Australia. he/she told Hindustan Times, ‘We should play with one spin and one pace all-rounder in Australia. This would be the ideal balance.’

Nitish missed the opportunity, so did Shimav…
At present, India’s best all-rounder is Hardik Pandya. But he/she does not want to play Test matches due to his/her fitness. In such a situation, 21-year-old Nitish Reddy’s claim seemed strong but he/she could take only one wicket in the Duleep Trophy. Shivam Dubey is also an option, but his/her bowling does not seem to be up to the level of the Test format. In such a situation, Shardul Thakur’s claim as a pace all-rounder seems to be the strongest. Now it remains to be seen on whom the selectors bet.

The team has been stuck on Jadeja-Ashwin earlier too
When the Indian team entered the final of the World Test Championship in England in the year 2023, Jadeja was given preference over Ashwin. However, Jadeja did not live up to expectations. Similarly, in the WTC final of 2021, India fielded both Jadeja and Ashwin. It is clear that the Indian team management may be in trouble to choose one between Jadeja and Ashwin.

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