Legendary India spinner Anil Kumble has said all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will have to come to the party in the absence of Ravichandran Ashwin in Rajkot. Ashwin withdrew from India’s third Test against England after Day 2 due to a family emergency.
India was dealt a massive blow as Ashwin withdrew from the ongoing third Test due a medical emergency in his family. The BCCI confirmed that Ashwin would be missing the rest of the Test. India will bring a substitute fielder in place of Ashwin but will need the permission of England skipper Ben Stokes to bring in a substitute who can bat and bowl in Ashwin’s absence.
IND vs ENG, 3rd Test Day 3: Live updates
Speaking to JioCinema, Kumble said it’s tough to lose a match-winner like Ashwin but India will have to come up with a game plan to stop England. The visitors scored 208 runs at a run-rate of close to 6 on Day 2 to eat into India’s lead.
“It’s tough when a match-winner like Ashwin misses out on a big day when he was needed. We saw the damage he can do, picked up his 500th Test wicket. But India will have to come up with a plan to get England out because they’re going to score runs. You won’t be able to stop that,” said Kumble.
He went on to say that the role of India’s pacers and Jadeja becomes even more important, insisting that Jadeja will have to come to the party in Ashwin’s absence. Jadeja, who is playing on his home ground, will be crucial for India as they look to restrict the visitors on Day 3.
“The fast-bowlers will become that much more important because there was some reverse swing. Bumrah and Siraj’s role will become more crucial and more importantly Jadeja will have to lead the spin attack. Jadeja will have to come to the party on his home ground in Rajkot. He knows the pitch better than anyone else, so he has to come to the party,” Kumble added.
Ashwin played a crucial innings on Day 2, scoring 37 runs off 89 deliveries, smashing six boundaries while stitching a 77-run stand with debutant Dhruv Jurel for the eighth wicket. His knock helped India post 445 runs on the scoreboard in the first innings.
Later, Ashwin dismissed Zak Crawley to claim his 500th Test wicket, becoming just the second Indian to achieve the feat.
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