Ravindra Jadeja vs Ravi Ashwin: Virat Kohli explains why India picked Jadeja ahead of Ashwin in West Indies Tests

Ravindra Jadeja vs Ravi Ashwin: The Indian captain was vocal about the Indian bowling unit during the Test series against West Indies.

After becoming the best Indian captain in Test matches, Virat Kohli credited the whole team for achieving the milestone. Talking about the bowling unit, Kohli was wax lyrical about fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah who registered his maiden Test hat-trick in the recently concluded Jamaica Test.

Speaking during the post-match press conference, Kohli picked out one facet of Bumrah’s game which makes him superior to other bowling in world cricket. Having picked 13 wickets in two Tests at an average of 9.23, an economy rate of 2.44 and a strike rate of 22.6, Bumrah finished the series as its highest wicket-taker.

“It’s the mindset, when you put your mind to a certain thing, you strive towards it. He [Jasprit Bumrah] definitely wants to be the best bowler in the world, there is no question about it. He has moulded his life like that, he has moulded his discipline, his work ethic, the way he trains, the way he takes care of his diet, the way he bowls as much as he has to,” Kohli was quoted as saying.

A great win, an outstanding team effort and tons of happy memories.🔥🔥💪 pic.twitter.com/waZtQpaWDV

— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) September 3, 2019

Ravindra Jadeja vs Ravi Ashwin

Before the start of the series, the Indian team management had to take the tough call regarding the Indian spinners. Left-arm orthodox spinner Ravindra Jadeja pinned down off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav to play both the matches.

Being asked about the rationale behind the decision, Kohli explained in detail regarding why Jadeja was preferred above the other two spinners. “It’s the control we can bank on with [Ravindra] Jadeja,” Kohli said.

“He has probably been our most consistent and most accurate bowler away from India, and there is a reason why he is constantly playing in the eleven, because he gives you control even when the wicket is not supporting his bowling.

“As a batsman, when the bowler is pitching balls in areas where you can get out constantly even when it’s not turning so much, he is always in the game, and that’s his USP, with the bat, with the ball, and in the field there is no one better than him in the world, so he is just in a great zone right now.

“He is willing to contribute for the team all the time, and you can see he wants the ball. He wants to do the job for the team, and when a guy is bowling like that and when he is in that mindset, then your job becomes easier,” Kohli added.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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