Cheteshwar Pujara feels India have failed to find replacements for Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, who were benched in the first Test against Australia in Perth.
Pujara mentioned that India will never be able to find someone as good as the duo in the spin department.
Washington Sundar was preferred over the two seniors in the series opener of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Although Sundar didn’t do much at the Optus Stadium, India won the match by 295 runs.
India are likely to keep the same bowling unit for the second Test at the Adelaide Oval.
‘You can’t have the quality spinners like Ashwin and Jadeja. I have seen a lot of spinners in domestic matches in India, but I don’t think anyone is as impressive as the two. We do have young talented spinners but they won’t be able to match Ashwin and Jadeja. We might have some replacements, but those two guys have contributed a lot to Indian cricket,” he said on ESPNcricinfo.
Pujara also opined on Jadeja and Ashwin’s chances of playing in the five-Test series against England in 2025.
“We will play five Test matches in England after the WTC final. Are we going to see Ashwin and Jadeja? Do you want them to be a part of playing XI? If Washington Sundar is going to be a part of Playing XI, then you might see someone else in the team,” he added.
In 105 Tests, Ashwin has taken 536 wickets at an average of 23.95. On the other hand, Jadeja has dismissed 319 batters in 77 Tests at an average of 23.76.
Related