'Massive loss' - Mahela Jayawardene on Ravindra Jadeja's absence from India's T20 World Cup squad

Ravindra Jadeja’s injury in the Asia Cup changed the way India wanted to approach the game in the tournament. In the absence of Rishabh Pant, Jadeja was promoted up in the order and played a match-winning knock against Pakistan in the group stage. Thus, his injury is a huge blow to the Indian team as it upsets the combination that the team normally prefers to field.

Mahela Jayawardene, the former Sri Lankan captain, has said that the Men in Blue will miss Jadeja’s service in the T20 World Cup. Other than being a finisher, Jadeja can be economical with the bowl and is a gun fielder. 

“It is a challenge. They had fitted him nicely in that No.5 role. He has been batting really well and him and Hardik (Pandya) being in that top six – two guys who can give that all-round options – gave India much more flexibility in that batting order,” Jayawardene in the latest episode of The ICC Review.

“It is a tough one for them, and probably a concern not having that left-hander. They've switched to leaving out DK (Dinesh Karthik) and bringing in Rishabh (Pant) in that role, batting at 5 or 4. Those are things they have to settle going into the World Cup. But not having Jadeja, the form that he was in... it will be a massive loss for them,” he added.

In Asia Cup, Virat showed what he is capable of: Jayawardene

Virat Kohli’s form in the Asia Cup was a huge plus point for India. After struggling to get runs for quite some time, he finally hit his 71st hundred, against Afghanistan in the Super 4 of the Asia Cup. The 33-year-old also finished as the second highest run-scorer of the tournament.

Jayawardene was impressed to see Kohli getting back in form and he believes his impact will be a concern for opponent bowlers in the World Cup in Australia. 

“In the Asia Cup, he batted well, showed what he is capable of, especially in that batting position. Going forward for India, having that stability in that line-up and having confidence that a guy like Virat is going to be a factor, is going to be a concern for the opposition as well. It's good to see him batting like that. We need all these brilliant players to be at their best form in a World Cup, and that's what the World Cup deserves as well. Everyone going at each other at that level. It will be a fascinating World Cup in Australia,” said the 45-year-old.