Ravindra Jadeja has to improve as a batting all-rounder to replace Dinesh Karthik or Hardik Pandya: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has claimed that all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will have to prove to the Indian team management that he can get the job done ahead of the likes of Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik.

Jadeja has been one of the most consistent red-ball cricketers in the world, and the last 3-4 years have seen him improve drastically in the shorter formats as well. The southpaw has become a dependable lower-order batter for the Indian team and has played several important knocks in crucial situations.

However, the all-rounder has not been penetrative enough with the ball in hand and is playing the role of batting all-rounder in the shortest format of the game at the moment. Manjrekar highlighted that the veteran all-rounder’s place in the team is no longer guaranteed since the re-emergence of Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik.

“If he is going to be a batting all-rounder, then he has got to show that he is an adequate replacement to somebody like a Dinesh Karthik, who is likely to bat at No. 6 or No. 7, or somebody like a Hardik Pandya at No. 6,” said Manjrekar in an interview with Sports 18.

Jadeja has got to convince the team management: Sanjay Manjrekar

The Indian team will most likely go with Yuzvendra Chahal as their primary spinner and Ravindra Jadeja’s place as the second spinning option in the team is under threat by Axar Patel, who showcased his explosive batting skills in the recently concluded series against the West Indies. Manjrekar reckoned that Jadeja will have to prove his bowling skills if he wants to make it in the team ahead of Axar.

“Ravindra Jadeja himself knows there is some serious competition coming in. So it is really about Jadeja now convincing the selectors whether he is going to be a bowling all-rounder or a batting all-rounder. Depending on that, his place on the team will be decided. If he is competing as a bowling all-rounder, he has got to convince the team management that he is better than Axar Patel as a second spinning option,” added Manjrekar.