‘Ravindra Jadeja will punch me, but he is on the wrong side of thirty’: Ex-India cricketer’s blunt take

[Murali Kartik, a former India spinner, has identified Manav Suthar as a potential long-term successor to Ravindra Jadeja in India’s Test squad. Both Jadeja and Suthar are currently part of the Indian team for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, with expectations that both left-arm spinners will be featured in the starting eleven for the first Test in Galle this week.

With Ravindra Jadeja now 37 years old, Kartik believes it is timely for India to start looking at the next generation of its spin-bowling attack. He singled out Suthar due to his impressive all-round capabilities, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. Suthar made his Test debut earlier this year and immediately impressed, securing seven wickets, including a six-wicket haul against Afghanistan in Mullanpur. His recent performance in India’s three-day warm-up game against the SLC XI further showcased his talent, where he claimed two wickets and scored 45 runs, including a first-innings score of 41.

Kartik, however, cautioned against direct comparisons between Suthar and Jadeja, preferring to assess Suthar on his individual merits. “I think he is a very, very good bowler. Let’s not compare him with anybody. He is old-school; he has many things going very well for him. For me, I was jumping with joy when I was doing that game against Afghanistan, because I was calling that game, and for me to see somebody release the ball like that and have that kind of consistency and have that kind of skill,” Kartik stated during an interaction organized by Sony Sports Network. He added, “After a very long time, we are seeing a bowler like that. Maybe for India, it has come at a good time.”

Kartik emphasized the opportune timing of Suthar’s emergence, particularly as Jadeja’s illustrious career approaches its concluding phase. “Ravindra Jadeja will punch me the next time he meets me, but at the end of the day, he is on the wrong side of thirty. He is in the twilight of his career, and we don’t know how much longer he will play. From that point of view, you are always looking at passing the baton,” Kartik explained.

It appears there was a misunderstanding in the provided details regarding Jadeja’s career status. While Jadeja is indeed nearing the end of his career, the information stating he has retired from Test cricket and is out of India’s ODI plans is incorrect. Jadeja has continued to be a crucial part of India’s setup across formats. Nevertheless, Kartik believes that with Suthar now integrated into the Test team and demonstrating his dual abilities, India is well-positioned for a smooth transition when the time comes.

Source: Original Source