“Those conditions were totally different” - Former India batting coach lauds team changes for BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
India's former batting coach and all-rounder Sanjay Bangar has lauded the side's playing XI for the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test that started in Brisbane on Saturday, December 14. Bangar was particularly elated with Ravindra Jadeja getting the nod over Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar as the specialist spinner in the lineup.
The veteran all-rounder warmed the benches in the first two Tests, with Sundar playing the series opener in Perth and Ashwin spearheading the spin department in the second Test in Adelaide. While the Men in Blue won the Perth Test by 295 runs, they were hammered in the Adelaide outing by 10 wickets, leaving the series tantalizingly poised at 1-1.
Speaking to the broadcasters on Day 1 of the Brisbane Test, Bangar said (via India Today):
"He (Jadeja) has always been the first choice spinner in overseas conditions and that's where India has won a lot of overseas test matches in recent times, and I was a little bit surprised that, maybe the team management would have got swayed away by the performances of Washington Sundar in the previous test series against New Zealand, but those conditions were totally different."
He added:
"I'm glad that they resorted to someone like a Jadeja, who may not have to do a lot of work in the first innings. His record as a batter also helps the team get useful runs in the lower order of the innings as well, which has been significant in helping one win overseas matches."
Sundar was the best spinner in the home series against New Zealand before the Australian tour, picking up 16 wickets at an average of 14.12. He picked up two wickets in the Perth Test, while Ashwin had only one scalp in the Adelaide encounter.
Apart from the Jadeja change, India drafted in Akash Deep to replace Harshit Rana, who endured a horrific outing in the Adelaide Test.
India's Playing XI for the Brisbane Test
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
A look at the three India spinners' performances in Tests Down Under
Sanjay Bangar's remarks on Ravindra Jadeja being the obvious choice as the first spin-bowling option hold much truth, given the trio's numbers in Tests Down Under.
The 36-year-old has excelled with bat and ball in his five Tests in Australia, picking up 14 wickets at an average of 21.78 and scoring 175 runs at an average of 43.75. Meanwhile, Ashwin has historically struggled on Australian pitches in the red-ball format, averaging a dismal 42.42 with the ball and 22.94 with the bat in 11 outings.
Sundar has been moderately impressive in his two Tests Down Under, averaging 36.33 with the ball and 29.25 with the willow.
The above numbers justify Jadeja's selection for the ongoing Brisbane Test, considering he has outdone his fellow spinners in Test performances in Australia.