India vs Bangladesh: Krunal Pandya preferred ahead of Ravindra Jadeja for the T20I series

MSK Prasad-led selection panel, on Thursday, announced India’s T20I and Test squads for the upcoming home series against Bangladesh. Both the squads did not have too many surprises although there were some new faces in the T20I squad in the form of uncapped Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson. But then again, their selection was pretty much on the cards because of their performances in recent times. However, Ravindra Jadeja being dropped has surprised many.

The all-rounder was dropped from the T20I squad although he was a part of the team for the last assignment which was against South Africa. Jadeja, however, had failed to impress. After the first game was washed out, he picked up one wicket for 31 runs in the second as India won that game.

In the third and final match, he scored 19 runs and conceded 8 runs in two overs in a losing cause. The unimpressive performances seem to have convinced the selectors that Jadeja is not the right man for the shortest format of the game. Another reason that made the selectors drop Ravindra Jadeja was the presence of Krunal Pandya. Just like Jadeja, Krunal also offers the same on the field.

Like Jadeja, Krunal is also a left-arm spinner and a hard-hitting lower-order batsman. After announcing the squad, MSK Prasad spoke about the decision and said that Jadeja was dropped from the squad because he offers a similar skill-set as Krunal.

Impressive Krunal pipped Ravindra Jadeja

Krunal had made his T20I debut towards the end of last during the Australia tour and has been a regular in the side since then. He is also one of the most sought after T20 allrounders in the country and has already proved his worth in the IPL. In the last three years, he has played an integral role for Mumbai Indians, helping them win two IPL titles.

India, meanwhile, will play three T20Is and a couple of Tests against Bangladesh. The first T20I between the two teams will take place on November 3, at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium. Following the T20Is, the two neighbours will lock horns in Tests.

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