The third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India started at Gabba, Brisbane on December 14. India won the toss and put Australia in to bat first. The visitors made two changes in the Playing XI with Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep replacing Ravichandran Ashwin and Harshit Rana.
Akash Deep’s return was somehow expected after Harshit Rana’s poor outing in Adelaide but Ravindra Jadeja wasn’t expected to play in the match. Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik opened up India’s decision to include Ravindra Jadeja in the Playing XI.
Karthik termed this as a “defensive” decision from India’s captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir. With Ravindra Jadeja having played in this match, India have now played three spinners in three successive Tests of this series.
Dinesh Karthik calls India’s decision to play Ravindra Jadeja “defensive
During a conversation with Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik spoke about India’s decision to play Ravindra Jadeja in place of Ravichandran Ashwin. Karthik believes that Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir have decided to prolong the batting by compromising the bowling.
“I have to say (Gautam) Gambhir) and Rohit (Sharma) have gone towards an option that provides more batting. In the bowling, they have realized that the all three (two) spinners haven’t had that much of an impact,” Karthik noted.
“So, they probably fear that, you know, let’s try and get the best batter out of the three and this is what their thinking could be. It doesn’t sit well with me,” he added.
Karthik also cited the example of Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli and lauded them for playing with an attacking mindset which helped India win historic overseas Tests.
“You always have to give credit to Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli in the limited success that they had while touring was (that) they aimed for 20 wickets. What can we do as a unit to get 20 wickets, that was the constant question and they always preferred playing 6:5 combination (6 batters and 5 bowlers),” he explained.
‘Playing #Jadeja at #Gabba, a defensive call by #Rohit & #Gambhir‘@DineshKarthik & @bhogleharsha discuss, on #CricbuzzChatter#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/buz2vEXGrk
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) December 14, 2024
Ravindra Jadeja has been exceptional for India with both bat and ball in the last few years. While he was always threatening with the ball, his batting has significantly improved.
Nitish Kumar Reddy has been “find of the series so far” – Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik further praised Nitish Kumar Reddy and called him the find of the series so far. He feels that India have gone with a defensive option by playing Jadeja but understands the decision since India is coming off a defeat in Adelaide.
“Now, India is blessed to an extent with Nitish (Kumar) Reddy, who is giving us a few overs with the ball at times and picking up a wicket as well. He has probably been the find of the series so far. To get into that mindset where you want depth of batting but you don’t mind lack of bowling,” Karthik said.
“But the other side of the argument could be, what has Washington and Ashwin done with the ball that a Jadeja can’t. That would be the only thing. I feel it’s slightly a defensive option but I understand where they are coming from,” he concluded.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s numbers in BGT 2024-25
Nitish Kumar Reddy is having a wonderful debut Test series so far. The allrounder has scored 163 runs in two Tests so far at an average of 54.33. He was the highest run-scorer for India in both the innings of the Adelaide Test.
Reddy also impressed with the bat in the first Test where he top-scored for India in the first innings and scored an unbeaten 38 off 27 balls in the second innings of the match. Despite sparkling innings every time he has come to bat, he is yet to reach the fifty-run mark.