“It’s not Jadeja’s fault that I’m not playing”- R Ashwin says he is not jealous of Ravindra Jadeja in Test cricket

India’s veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said he is not jealous of Ravindra Jadeja when his teammate is preferred ahead of him in overseas Test matches. India has mostly played with a solitary spinner in foreign conditions and Jadeja is team’s first choice spinner.

Ashwin hasn’t been able to get regular chances in the playing XI while playing in away conditions. The off-spinner has been a consistent performer for India in the home conditions but he has been a tad unlucky to not get his deserved chances while playing away.

Ashwin said on Vimal Kumar’s YouTube Channel, “It’s not Jadeja’s fault that I’m not playing. I don’t have the kind of jealousy where I would wish to keep him out just to play myself. The notion of jealousy is a conditioning we need to overcome.”

Meanwhile, Ashwin tipped Jadeja as the most talented player he has seen in his career. Jadeja is a livewire on the field and his batting credentials have improved by leaps and bounds in the last few years.

“Jadeja is the most talented cricketer I’ve seen; everything about him is natural.”

“I tend to think a lot, whereas he does not. Understanding took time, but now we have a strong working relationship,” Ashwin concluded.

While Ravindra Jadeja will play for Team B in the upcoming Duleep trophy, Ashwin has been rested from the domestic tournament, which will kick off on September 5.

The all-rounder duo will be in action in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, with the first Test set to be played at Ashwin’s home ground in Chennai from September 19 onwards.