NEW DELHI: In India’s shock loss to New Zealand in the Bengaluru Test, one of the the major highlight was that veteran spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja didn’t prove to be as effective they usually are in home conditions.
While Ashwin managed a solitary wicket in both the innings combined, Jadeja picked up three in the match.
The surface at the Chinnaswamy did offer some assistance to the spinners but it was not enough for Ashwin and Jadeja to swing the match in India’s favour.
With the Indian spin duo proving ineffective in the series opener, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said that pressure will now be on the curators to give them more assistance from the surface.
Manjrekar pointed out that that if the the strip favours the pacers in the next two Tests, India seamers might utilize it well but the Kiwis will benefit more from it.
“Pressure is more on the curators for the next two Test matches. If India get pitches that they like… I think one of the big takeaways was how Ashwin and Jadeja didn’t make an impact on an Indian pitch that had a bit of turn. So, obviously they need more help and that will be given, I guess, India can win with seamers as well but New Zealand pacers will use those conditions may be as good or even better than the Indian seamers,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.
Manjrekar was confident that India will make a comeback in the series, saying if rank-turners are given to the spinners, it will make life easier for the hosts.
“I see India coming back. Even in Bengaluru, there were some champion performances they put in after getting 46. To be competing right till the very end was just inredible. India are a very dangerous team with match winners who have great self belief. But, the pitch, if it turns out to be a rank turner will just make India’s life much easier,” Manjrekar added.
India skipper Rohit Sharma had earlier admitted that he misread the pitch as his decision to bat first was wrong, resulting in India shooting out to 46 all out.
After New Zealand piled up 402 in their first innings, India batters, fired 462 in their second essay with spinners, from both teams, leaking quite a bit of runs.
With India now 1-0 down in the three-Test series and the next two games scheduled in Pune and Mumbai, a surface, offering more help for spinners is likely on the cards.
