In India’s current third Test match versus England in Leeds, things aren’t going well. Virat Kohli’s India lost a huge opportunity following winning the toss and electing to bat initially. They were knocked out for just 78 runs. Analysts and supporters have questioned India’s tactics due to the choice and dismissal of a few individuals from the team. Farmer indian spinner Maninder singh has given he’s opinion About Captaincy.
One of the burning issues is all-rounder Ravi Ashwin’s absence from 3 Tests. Kohli has gone with a 4-1 speed and spin combination so far, preferring Ravindra Jadeja. Surprisingly, Jadeja has not been utilized much with the ball, bowling only a few overs and going to pick up 2 wickets while hitting 99 runs.
While there is no dispute about Jadeja’s skill in all three aspects of the game, his effect on the series has been smaller than that of the team’s pacers. As a result, many former players and pundits predicted that Ashwin would get a chance to play in the 3rd Test match.
I feel Jadeja and Ashwin are good enough to get you wickets on any kind of track: Maninder Singh
Jadeja has taken 2 wickets in the present Leeds Test, and veteran India spinner Maninder Singh believes the all-rounder should focus on taking wickets rather than merely limiting run-scoring. Maninder went on to say that the skipper and coach should inform the spinner all he needs to know and give him confidence in his ability to take 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 said.
The former India seamer also remembered an earlier incident concerning Ashwin when he was on tour with the Australian squad, which was captained by MS Dhoni. Ashwin had informed Maninder at the time that his duty was to bowl affordable 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.
