Former all-rounder of team India, Irfan Pathan, has backed Ravindra Jadeja to replace Ravichandran Ashwin in the second Test if he is fit.
Former all-rounder of Indian cricket team Irfan Pathan has backed Ravindra Jadeja to replace Ravichandran Ashwin in the second Test if he is fit. South Africa hammered India by an innings and 32 runs in the first Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
With this victory, South Africa took a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series, slashing India’s hopes of capturing their final frontier in Test cricket. India will kick-start 2024 by facing South Africa in the second and final match of their Test series at the Wanderers Stadium in Cape Town on January 3.
While speaking ahead of the second Test, Pathan backed Jadeja to replace Ashwin, saying India missed his batting in the first Test. Ahswin was India’s most economical bowler in Centurion, giving away just 41 runs in 19 overs while picking the wicket of Gerald Coetzee.
Pathan said, “Ravindra Jadeja, if fit, should come back to the team. Ashwin did bowl well for what was expected of him on that pitch, but we missed Jadeja’s control while batting at number 7 in Centurion.”
