West Indies 'Surprised' By Lack Of Turn In India, But Jadeja Explains: 'We Asked...'

The West Indies have been caught by surprise with the lack of turn on offer in Ahmedabad and New Delhi for the ongoing two-Test series against India. However, the home side’s lead spinner, Ravindra Jadeja,

isn’t remotely as taken aback, because he knew the team ‘asked’ for the surfaces they are getting.

Visitors’ coach Darren Sammy had said his team was preparing for the rubber by watching the previous tours by New Zealand (who won 3-0) and others. In that New Zealand series, the pitches got progressively more sand-like, offering ferocious turn, as India tried to stop the Kiwis’ winning run.

It proved to be counterproductive as the excessive purchase meant the skill and experience gap between India’s and New Zealand’s players mattered less, and the visitors used their practice and skill to script a historic whitewash. West Indies, on the other hand, have found slow turners with just enough help for spinners to see Jadeja and his team dominate.

“After watching the last couple of games between England and New Zealand, it was turning square from day one. That was my expectation, but clearly that’s not the case. Day one and two seemed to be good for batting. It was a bit disappointing for me as a spinner, but it’s a team sport,” West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican said after the second day’s play in Delhi.

India declared at 518/5 while West Indies were reduced to 140/4 at Stumps, with Jadeja taking three wickets.

“No, I am not surprised because we have only asked for slow turners,” Jadeja said when asked about Warrican’s comments. “We didn’t ask for rank turners. This is what we had expected that once the game progresses, the pitch would start (offering) turn slowly. We have to work hard, bowl well throughout the innings and then only we will be able to get them out. We will continue to do it and hopefully produce good results.”

“The bounce is on lower side and there isn’t much turn on offer. You have to use your shoulders a lot since less pace on deliveries enables the batter to easily adjust to the length and they can go on the back foot and play. So you have be a bit quicker in the air at times. It is not easy and not every ball is turning, hence there is a bit of hard work on cards. If we break this current partnership, then it will be easier, because they don’t bat deep. Like some other tracks, there is not enough fast turn off the surface,” he added.

‘Time for captaincy is long gone’: Jadeja

Jadeja is the senior-most player in the team after the retirements of Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, and Rohit Sharma. He was again nudged about captaincy in the press conference but ended the chatter in one sweep.

“I don’t think about captaincy. That time I believe is long gone,” Jadeja said.

He concluded by saying that he was available for the team anyway, whether it was Kuldeep Yadav asking for bowling advice or Yashasvi Jaiswal looking for batting tips.