India’s squad selection: Ravindra Jadeja dark horse as focus is on R Ashwin’s injury

Ravindra Jadeja might sneak in as an all-rounder for the four Tests against South Africa. (Source: File)

Ravindra Jadeja seems to be back in the national selectors’ scheme of things as they meet in New Delhi on Monday to pick India’s squad for the last two ODIs and first two Test matches against South Africa. They will also pick the Board President’s XI team for the two-day tour game against the visitors.

Jadeja was dropped from the Indian team after the limited-overs series in Bangladesh in June. He hasn’t played in the longest format since August 2014. Ravichandran Ashwin’s injury, however, has left the door ajar for the left-hander for a comeback. Ashwin suffered a side strain during the first ODI in Kanpur. “After making a detailed assessment of the injury, the BCCI medical team will confirm the time frame required for Ashwin to fully recover from the injury,” a BCCI release had said. The Tamil Nadu off-spinner is India’s No. 1 bowler and his absence is a big blow to the team. The selectors have to find an adequate cover. They will get an update on Ashwin’s fitness before the meeting.

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What has helped Jadeja’s case is that he has scored 149 runs at 74.50 in the two Ranji Trophy matches he played so far this season. His tally of 24 scalps at an average of 8.25, including four five-fors and a couple of 10-wicket match hauls, is even more impressive. However, it should be noted that those figures have came on a Rajkot track — Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground — that was a spinner’s paradise, and against Jharkhand and Tripura — not the strongest batting line-ups in Indian domestic cricket.

But then, the Sandeep Patil-led committee will basically focus on Tests, with turners expected to optimise the home advantage. Captain Virat Kohli prefers to play with five specialist bowlers and it allows Jadeja to fit into the all-rounder’s role. Stuart Binny had occupied the position in two Test matches in Sri Lanka. But he might find himself surplus to India’s requirements on home patch.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra has made himself an automatic choice after his 15 wickets (average 15.00) in three Tests in Sri Lanka, and if Ashwin is unavailable for the first two games, Harbhajan Singh, too, is likely to be persisted with.

After a gap of two years, the senior offie had been brought back to the fold for the one-off Test against Bangladesh. He played in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle as well but was left out of the XI after that. His selection, however, will largely depend on how big the squad will be. The BCCI usually picks 14 players for home series, but according to a source, Kohli is more comfortable with an extra man in the side and will get the cricket board’s approval in this regard.

Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron are expected to share the new ball in the first Test at Mohali. Ishant Sharma is banned for that game for breaching the ICC code of conduct during the third Test in Sri Lanka. He has also reportedly pulled his hamstring while playing the Ranji Trophy fixture between Delhi and Haryana. So the selectors might retain Bhuvneshwar Kumar as a back-up. The batting line-up selects itself. Wriddhiman Saha will remain as the No. 1 keeper. The four-Test series starts in Mohali from November 5.