"Every game, they are expected to take wickets" - Rohit Sharma backs Ashwin, Jadeja after India's Test series loss to New Zealand
Team India captain Rohit Sharma defended the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja over their below-par performance in the first two Tests of the series against New Zealand. Stating that Ashwin and Jadeja have been winning home Tests for India for years, he added that it is unfair to expect them to run over the opposition game after game.
India suffered their first Test series loss at home in 12 years, going down to New Zealand by 113 runs in the second Test in Pune on Saturday, October 26. The hosts had earlier lost the opening match of the three-game series in Bengaluru by eight wickets.
India's batters failed in both matches while tackling varied conditions. The trusted spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja also failed to make the desired impact. Both the seasoned bowlers have claimed six wickets each in the series against New Zealand so far, averaging 43.50 and 37.50 respectively.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Rohit threw his weight behind the spin pair and commented (as quoted by PTI):
"They know (about) that. There's too much expectation on those two guys. Every game they play, they are expected to take wickets, run through the (opposition) team and win Test matches for us. I don't think that is fair.
"It's the responsibility of all of us to make sure that we get the Test wins, not just the two guys. Of course, by their standards, they know where they stand and what they haven't been able to do or what they have done really well," he added.
Praising Ashwin and Jadeja, Rohit further stated that both of them have made huge contributions to India's home streak of 18 consecutive Test series wins, which ended on Saturday following the defeat to the Kiwis.
"I'm not going to look into (it) too much, especially with those two guys. They know exactly what happens and sometimes they are allowed to have some bad games here and there and not go by that expectation that 'okay, this is the opportunity for me to take wickets and run through the opposition'. That's not going to happen every time," the 37-year-old said.
Ashwin has played 64 Test matches at home in which he has claimed 380 wickets at an average of 21.45, with 29 five-fers and six 10-wicket match hauls. As for Jadeja, the left-arm spinner has played 48 home Tests and has picked up 228 scalps at an average of 21.09, with 11 five-fers and two 10-wicket match hauls.
"Washy had a great game" - Rohit praises off-spinner
While Jadeja and Ashwin were underwhelming in Pune, off-spinner Washington Sundar, playing his first Test in more than three years, had an outstanding game. He picked up seven wickets in the first innings and four in the second. Praising the 25-year-old, Rohit said:
"Washy had a great game. I'm really proud of that. He's proud of that and we are happy with his performance. He bowled so well."
The Indian captain also admitted that their spinners can learn from Kiwi left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who stunned India with 13 wickets in Pune.
"Santner kept the ball on the stumps and that is where the challenge happens. When you pitch it on the stumps, you don't know which one is going away, which one is keeping straight. That is something that we had to exploit a lot more as a bowling unit," Rohit said.
The third and final Test of the India vs New Zealand series will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from November 1 to November 5.