Sunil Gavaskar wants Ravindra Jadeja in India’s ODI set-up after he made an excellent comeback

Ravindra Jadeja made a terrific return to ODI cricket (after 480 days precisely, as per his own estimate) in the game against Bangladesh in Asia Cup on September 21. Replacing an injured Axar Patel in the squad, the left-arm spinner came in the place of all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the playing XI against Bangladesh. He picked four of their key batsmen for just 29 runs to help India win by seven wickets and bagged the Man of the Match award as well.

Gavaskar prefers Jadeja over Patel

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar spoke in favour of Jadeja after his performance and sought his inclusion in India’s ODI set-up as an all-rounder over players like Patel. His all-round skills came to the fore during the recent Test series in England as well where he got to play just one game at The Oval. Besides taking seven wickets, the 29-year-old slammed an unbeaten 86 in the first innings to keep his team in the game.

“I think Ravindra Jadeja merits his place because I believe he is a better bowler, batsman and fielder but what the selection committee thinks, we will see in the next few months,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by India Today.

The left-arm spinner reappeared for India in ODIs after July 2017 and will look forward to making use of this vital phase in the run-up to the ICC World Cup in England in May-July next year. He has taken 159 wickets in 137 ODIs till date at an average of 35.15 with a solitary five-wicket haul.

India are currently taking on Pakistan in a crucial clash in the Super Four of the Asia Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Both teams have won their first matches in this round with India earning an easier victory over Bangladesh compared to Pakistan who had to work hard to beat Afghanistan. The Men in Blue defeated their arch-rivals by 8 wickets in a one-sided group game on September 19.

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