IND vs AUS 2023: India blessed to have R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, says Saba Karim

Former Indian selector Saba Karim feels India are blessed to have a spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. Ashwin and Jadeja have all the experience at the International level and both of them collectively took 15 wickets in the first Test match against Australia, which the hosts won convincingly by an innings and 132 runs.

Jadeja, who was making a return after five months, returned with figures of 5-47 in the first innings. Ashwin then picked his 31st five-wicket haul in Test matches as he took 5-37 in the second dig.

Furthermore, Jadeja scored 70 runs whereas Axar Patel scored 84 runs in the first essay to help the team post 400 runs on the board and take a massive lead of 223 runs.

“I don’t think I have seen a better combination of left-arm spinners in modern-day cricket. Both Jadeja and Axar aren’t your orthodox left-arm spinners as they are a bit quicker and also like to undercut the ball,” said Karim on India News.

Former Indian wicket-keeper bat lauded Ravichandran Ashwin for setting up the batsmen and using natural variations to get the better of the opposition’s batters.

“This makes it tough for even themselves to predict which ball will turn and which won’t. On top of it, the way Ashwin sets up the batters is brilliant. This makes this trio extremely dangerous,” Karim added.

Karim feels the spinners’ pace made it difficult for the Australian batters to gauge the length of the ball. He added that the opposition needs more confidence in their footwork.

“The pace at which these spinners bowl, it is difficult for the Australian batters to gauge whether it will be an undercut or an overspin delivery. I think they need to be assured in their footwork and also make up their mind that they have to stay at the crease for a long time,” said Karim.

Saba Karim feels even the Indian batters will find it difficult to face the spin trio of Ashwin, Jadeja, and Patel.

“It is tough to captain a side in Indian conditions when you have to manage such quality spinners. Imagine what will happen if Axar too starts to put pressure on Rohit (laughs). But we are really blessed that we have such a spin trio and as I said, even our own batters will find difficulty in facing them,” Karim added.

The second Test match will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi from Friday.