'Team is focused on winning' - Abhishek Nayar says Ashwin and Jadeja not concerned over Perth snub

The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 was held at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The deck was laden with 10 mm grass and it called for the Indian team to field four pacers and only one spinner in the form of Washington Sundar. Subsequently, the team benched the veteran players such as Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. The move paid dividends as India went onto win the first Test by 295 runs and are leading the five-match series by 1-0.

Ahead of the second Test, India are practicing in Canberra. Meanwhile, assistant coach Abhishek Nayar was quizzed about whether the India’s spin duo is hurt after the snub. Nayar was quick to response that “the team was focused on team India to win”.

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“It is only tough when you have seniors who do not understand it. When you have seniors like Jaddu and Ashwin, who understand what the team is trying to do, I think it becomes very easy. The team follows what Gauti bhai believes in. We were very happy with how Ashwin and Jaddu were helping the younger guys do well here. I just felt that the culture of the team was focused on team India to win,” said Nayar as quoted by India Today.

For the unversed, the last time both Jadeja and Ashwin were not part of India's Test lineup was during the famous Gabba Test in January 2021. While Jadeja missed the match due to a fractured thumb, Ashwin had to be rested with back issues.

After India’s first win, Rohit Sharma will be back as captain, having missed the first Test due to personal reasons. Moreover, Shubman Gill will also be itching to make a comeback after he was replace by Devdutt Padikkal in the first game owing to a thumb injury he contracted during the practice sessions at the WACA Stadium in Perth.