Ravindra Jadeja’s absence resulting from harm is a “massive loss” however Virat Kohli’s return to kind and Jasprit Bumrah’s comeback would nonetheless make India a drive to reckon with within the upcoming T20 World Cup, feels Sri Lanka legend Mahela Jayawardene.
Jadeja was disregarded of the 15-member Indian workforce for the T20 World Cup in Australia in October-November after the all-rounder suffered an harm through the Asia Cup.
“It is a challenge. They had fitted him (Jadeja) 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,” Jayawardena was quoted as saying in The ICC Review.
“It is a troublesome one for them, and doubtless a priority not having that left-hander. They’ve switched to leaving out DK (Dinesh Karthik) and bringing in Rishabh (Pant) in that position, batting at 5 or 4. Those are issues they should settle going into the World Cup.
“But not having Jadeja, the form that he was in… it will be a massive loss for them,” the batting legend mentioned of Jadeja.
Jayawardene mentioned India can take solace within the return to type of star batter Kohli who broke his century drought that spanned 1,020 days, scoring his 71st worldwide hundred when he smashed an unbeaten 122 in opposition to Afghanistan within the Asia Cup, although it was an inconsequential match.
“He (Kohli) was there and thereabouts pretty much. He just didn’t have that big score under his belt to get that confidence, especially in white-ball cricket, which is always going to happen,” mentioned Jayawardene, who has been IPL facet Mumbai Indians’ head coach.
“There were a few injury concerns in the last 12 months. He had little niggles and they rested him and India kept on giving people rest, with the workload that they had. So not having that consistent run also makes it tough.” “It’s good to see him (Kohli) batting like that. We want all these sensible gamers to be at their finest kind in a World Cup, and that’s what the World Cup deserves as nicely. Everyone going at one another at that stage. It can be an interesting World Cup in Australia.
“For me the way they played, the skills, the talent, everything is there. They just need a little bit of confidence with the bat, with the ball and in the field. These are little things that India will want to improve. It’s just the confidence of bowlers being able to get wickets and then executing skills.” Jayawardene mentioned India can be additional bolstered by the return of tempo ace Bumrah.
“Obviously, not having Jasprit (in Asia Cup) was also a factor. He fills a big gap for them with the new ball and at the back end. That will settle them as well when he is back in Australia.”
