‘Ravindra Jadeja, on a Day five surface, is always a threat’ – Aakash Chopra predicts spin-dominant final day in Trinidad

Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja. (Pic source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP)

In the ongoing second Test at Port of Spain, the Indian cricket team’s star spin duo, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, reached an incredible milestone. Jadeja and Ashwin now together hav 500 wickets and became the second Indian pair to do so. Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble, together, picked up 501 Test wickets before them. However, in the ongoing West Indies Test series, the star spin duo’s presence will be very important to clean-sweep the series.

Former Indian cricketer, Aakash Chopra wants the star spin duo of India to take charge on Day 5 of the Port of Spain Test. Chopra also stated that the home side will, however, play with a defensive approach as India will be looking to bowl them out quickly, while they chase 365 runs to win the game. Coming to the Ashwin and Jadeja duo, both have played 49 Tests together, in which Ashwin has picked up 274 wickets while Jadeja has 226 wickets to his name.

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I expect Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to bowl a lot of overs in tandem: Aakash Chopra

“It depends on what they’re actually thinking about. If they want to win this game, then they have to play a slightly aggressive brand of cricket. But if they’re just thinking of drawing this game, they view it as a victory then more of the same. That’s what they have done. So, I once again expect them to block a lot of deliveries and wait for loose balls to score runs. Not a great strategy but that’s what West Indies is likely to do,” said Chopra while speaking to JioCinema

“Ashwin has already picked up a couple of tickets. Jadeja, on a Day Five surface, is always a threat. So, I expect them to bowl a lot of overs in tandem in the second or the third session if the game goes that far because the Indian team will also start thinking about the number of overs remaining and how many overs they can get in because these two spinners can actually put in their overs in double quick time. So, yes, expecting a few wickets from them,” he further added.

It is pertinent to mention that the Day 5 pitch of the Port of Spain Test is not likely to turn square, but the uneven bounce is expected to be on the surface. The Rohit Sharma-led side will surely be looking to win the second Test to take the series 2-0 after winning the first game by an innings and 141 runs. The ace off-spinner, Ashwin is also nearing a 500 wickets record, and he will surely be looking to deliver another match-winning performance to help Team India clean sweep the two-match series.