img source:sportswhoop.com
ENG vs IND Test Series: 3 Players who can replace Ravindra Jadeja
Kuldeep Yadav has bright chance to replace Jadeja for England series
Check the complete detail of England tour of India
Indian cricket team had been plagued by injuries during the recently-concluded series against Australia. Some of the cricketers even had to return to India due to injuries. Ravindra Jadeja has been one of the major inclusions on the list. The left-arm spinner and a useful batsman in the lower order had a major contribution in India's historic victory in Melbourne and Jadeja, having received a major blow on his left thumb while batting on the 3rd day of the Sydney Test and ruled out of the fourth Test in Brisbane. According to reports, Jadeja’s chances of returning to mainstream cricket are likely to be after 20th February.
In this article, let us search for 3 Players who can replace Ravindra Jadeja for the England-Test series.
Shahbaz Nadeem
Shahbaz Nadeem is a left-arm orthodox bowler from Bihar. He is termed as one of the country’s most promising spinners currently. Nadeem has impressive statistics in first-class cricket so far, scalping 443 wickets at an economy rate of 2.70 in 117 matches. Nadeem also had made his debut in Test in 2019 against South Africa and in his maiden appearance, the spinner bagged four wickets across two innings. The absence of Jadeja can bring a big opportunity for Nadeem.
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya can surely be among the 3 Players who can replace Ravindra Jadeja for the England-Test series. This all-rounder has already earned fame for his swashbuckling ability to strike the ball with the willow, eye-catching fielding, and effective bowling. The Baroda-born all-rounder can single-handedly win matches for India. Hardik who has scored 1351 runs in 29 first-class matches and scalped 48 wickets, made his debut in Test against Sri Lanka in 2017 but failed to solidify his place in the playing eleven. He has managed only 528 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 31.29 including one century and four fifties and scalped 17 wickets. Hardik is not currently bowling following his back surgery but he might not be the exact replacement of Jadeja as Hardik is a right-arm medium pacer. So even if Hardik becomes fit India may require him as a specialist batsman.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav is one of the foremost contenders among the 3 Players who can replace Ravindra Jadeja for the England-Test series.
He is a rare breed of Chinaman bowler in modern-day cricket. Out of the players, mentioned above, Kuldeep has the best performance in the purest format of the game. Interestingly, Kuldeep started as a fast bowler when he joined an academy at Kanpur. Following a suggestion from his academy coach Kapil Pandey, Kuldeep started bowling wrist spin. But it did not become an easy affair for the 26-year old spinner. Kuldeep had admitted that he had to go through relentless hard work to learn and then become proficient in wrist spin. H first drew attention in the under-19 World Cup in Dubai, scalping a hat-trick against Scotland after a wicket-less first match against Pakistan.
Kuldeep Yadav was also included in the Test squad for India last tour to Australia but he had to sit on the bench due to India's two leading spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin. Kuldeep has so far played in only six Tests but has been able to manage 24 wickets at an economy rate of 3.51. Kuldeep has also been effective with the willow as a night-watchman and he has scored 51 runs also.
