India’s Ravindra Jadeja (ANI Photo)
India Considers Future Without Jadeja in Test Format
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta has suggested that it may be time for the Indian Test team to explore options beyond Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja has been a crucial part of the squad for over a decade, contributing significantly as an all-rounder. However, Dasgupta believes that the team should start planning for the future, indicating a potential shift in strategy as they assess their long-term needs in the longest format of the game.
Jadeja aged 37, finished India’s recent two-Test tour of Sri Lanka with eight wickets across four innings. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines India won the two-match series 1-0, with victory by 165 runs in the opening Test in Galle before the second Test in Colombo ended in a draw. India’s next Test assignments will come with a tour of New Zealand scheduled for November before Australia travel to India for a five match Test series beginning in January 2027.
His action is very shoulder-dominant,” Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel. However, Dasgupta felt the Indian spin attack failed to consistently exert pressure on the hosts, particularly on surfaces where the visitors would have expected their spinners to play a major role. The former India player singled out the second Test in Colombo, where Sri Lanka were forced to follow on but managed to fight back strongly. Dasgupta felt India needed more penetration from their experienced spinners While Jadeja picked up three wickets in Sri Lanka’s second innings. “Apart from Manav, our spinners didn’t look as lethal as we expected. I’m not saying there is no ability. On such pitches, Jadeja has always been very destructive and lethal. I thought he would be crucial on the fifth day. He has been a great servant, but it’s done now. He was not as accurate as he is. The Sri Lanka series also highlighted an issue with India’s bowling discipline, with the spinners repeatedly overstepping. Saransh Jain, making his Test debut in Colombo, bowled four no-balls, while Jadeja overstepped once. Dasgupta believes such problems need to be addressed during training rather than waiting for them to surface in matches. “If you are not careful in the nets, it will happen. Even when I was playing, a lot of them would bowl from ahead and say it would not happen in the match, but they would repeat the same thing in the match. You need to avoid this in the nets. This issue is not new with Jadeja; it has only gotten worse,” he added. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
Sonal Dinusha’s century helped the hosts frustrate India and build a substantial lead before the match eventually ended in a draw.