Overview:
Jadeja, who hit two fifty-plus scores in the Edgbaston Test, has been ordinary with the ball so far.
India need seven wickets to beat England in the second Test of the five-match series. Chasing an impossible target of 608 runs, the hosts were 72/3 at stumps on Day 2. Akash Deep dismissed Ben Duckett and Joe Root, while Mohammed Siraj sent back Zak Crawley.
Former India player Sunil Gavaskar is backing veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja to play a winning role for the visiting team on the fifth and final day of the game. Jadeja, who hit two fifty-plus scores in the Edgbaston Test, has been ordinary with the ball so far. He picked up just 1 wicket in the series opener in Leeds and went wicketless in the first innings of the ongoing encounter.
However, Gavaskar thinks that Jadeja would be full of confidence after contributing with the bat. He also pointed out that England spinners Shoaib Bashir and Joe Root got massive turn on Day 4 and this was a good sign for Indian tweakers, especially Jadeja.
“He can bowl India to win. He can be India’s match-winner on Day 5. With his accuracy and the odd ball turning, he can be among the wicket-takers,” Sunil Gavaskar said.
“He should bowl just before the lunch or Shubman Gill can introduce him just after the lunch,” he added.
India are trailing 0-1, having lost the first game by 5 wickets.
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