NEW DELHI: Ravi Shastri is full of praise for star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as the former head coach believes the offie should be ‘right up there’ among India’s all-time greats and his rotation partner Ravindra Jadeja is also not far behind and is on the same track.
The deadly duo have shared an incredible 462 wickets between them in the 45 Tests they have played together so far.
Ashvin and Jadeja collected 16 wickets in the Delhi Test to add to their 15 in the first Test at Nagpur as India took a 2-0 lead in the four Test series.
Ashwin, who has so far won 463 Test wickets in his illustrious 12-year international career, replaced England’s James Anderson as the No.1 bowler in the ICC Test rankings on Wednesday.
“I never compare eras, but the record he (Ashwin) has – especially in Indian conditions – would make him a favorite to get into this (all-time) team,” Shastri told The ICC. Review.
“In Indian conditions, he’s something else. I mean, you’ve seen great spinners in the past. He’s right up there. And the fact that he can spin you at crucial stages makes all the difference. .”
Shastri, 60, who coached India through to the 2021 T20 World Cup, is also impressed with Jadeja’s outstanding run over the past 18 months and believes the left-arm all-rounder can join Ashwin in the XI of all time in India. .
“He (Jadeja) is going to start getting the credit (he deserves) now. There’s no doubt about it. Last year, a year and a half, he was just exceptional because he fulfilled his potential” , Shastri said.
Jadeja won his career-best bowling figures of seven for 42 in the second leg of the Delhi Test to finish with match figures of 10 for 110. It was his second 10-wicket run in 62 Tests in which he has more than 250 counters. He also scored 2,619 points with two of his three Test centuries in the last 12 months.
“He doesn’t give you anything and it’s a nightmare (for opposition hitters). Especially if you’re out of shape and you’re in opposition as a batsman, you’ll have nightmares. You will have Jadeja in your dreams because the guy doesn’t give you anything.
“If it’s a track where the ball goes up and down, he can be even more dangerous than Ashwin. Ashwin has the guy (with his) talent anyway. But here this guy (Jadeja) can have you on the nerves because a ball will jump through, a ball will spin, and it gives you nothing.
“His accuracy is so good that there are hardly any loose balls on offer.”
Shastri also recalled a moment during his coaching tenure with India when Jadeja was promoted in the squad which he said turned out to be a turning point for the all-rounder.
“People, including himself, didn’t realize what a good player he was until he got some big scores in Test matches,” Shastri said.
Shastri recalled how during his time he encouraged Jadeja to beat the order in Test cricket.
“I remember we also pushed him in the order to give him that responsibility and he didn’t look back.
“When you see his technique, he plays the ball late, he plays straight and he’s just a fabulous cricketer.”
(With PTI entries)
The deadly duo have shared an incredible 462 wickets between them in the 45 Tests they have played together so far.
Ashvin and Jadeja collected 16 wickets in the Delhi Test to add to their 15 in the first Test at Nagpur as India took a 2-0 lead in the four Test series.
Ashwin, who has so far won 463 Test wickets in his illustrious 12-year international career, replaced England’s James Anderson as the No.1 bowler in the ICC Test rankings on Wednesday.
“I never compare eras, but the record he (Ashwin) has – especially in Indian conditions – would make him a favorite to get into this (all-time) team,” Shastri told The ICC. Review.
“In Indian conditions, he’s something else. I mean, you’ve seen great spinners in the past. He’s right up there. And the fact that he can spin you at crucial stages makes all the difference. .”
Shastri, 60, who coached India through to the 2021 T20 World Cup, is also impressed with Jadeja’s outstanding run over the past 18 months and believes the left-arm all-rounder can join Ashwin in the XI of all time in India. .
“He (Jadeja) is going to start getting the credit (he deserves) now. There’s no doubt about it. Last year, a year and a half, he was just exceptional because he fulfilled his potential” , Shastri said.
Jadeja won his career-best bowling figures of seven for 42 in the second leg of the Delhi Test to finish with match figures of 10 for 110. It was his second 10-wicket run in 62 Tests in which he has more than 250 counters. He also scored 2,619 points with two of his three Test centuries in the last 12 months.
“He doesn’t give you anything and it’s a nightmare (for opposition hitters). Especially if you’re out of shape and you’re in opposition as a batsman, you’ll have nightmares. You will have Jadeja in your dreams because the guy doesn’t give you anything.
“If it’s a track where the ball goes up and down, he can be even more dangerous than Ashwin. Ashwin has the guy (with his) talent anyway. But here this guy (Jadeja) can have you on the nerves because a ball will jump through, a ball will spin, and it gives you nothing.
“His accuracy is so good that there are hardly any loose balls on offer.”
Shastri also recalled a moment during his coaching tenure with India when Jadeja was promoted in the squad which he said turned out to be a turning point for the all-rounder.
“People, including himself, didn’t realize what a good player he was until he got some big scores in Test matches,” Shastri said.
Shastri recalled how during his time he encouraged Jadeja to beat the order in Test cricket.
“I remember we also pushed him in the order to give him that responsibility and he didn’t look back.
“When you see his technique, he plays the ball late, he plays straight and he’s just a fabulous cricketer.”
(With PTI entries)
