Ravindra Jadeja pleased with Indian spin unit ahead of Champions Trophy

India’s Ravindra Jadeja celebrates after taking the wicket of England’s Jamie Overton, caught by Shubman Gill, during the second ODI in Cuttack on February 9, 2025
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Ravindra Jadeja is pleased that India’s spin department has been doing well in the build-up to the Champions Trophy.

Left-arm spinners Jadeja, Axar Patel, chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, leg-break bowler Varun Chakaravarthy and off-spinner Washington Sundar have provided options as well as variety to Indian captain Rohit Sharma in the ongoing ODI series against England. While four of them were given some game time, Washington may get an opportunity in the final ODI in Ahmedabad.

So far, the spinners have provided crucial breakthroughs and contained the England batters in the middle overs. Depending on the team’s requirement in Dubai, the Indian team management may consider Varun as backup to the Champions Trophy squad.

“It’s good considering where we are going to play, it is likely to be hot, so we’ll only know about the pitch once we get there.

“Our spin department is doing well. In the middle overs, we need to either take wickets or restrict runs and not give away easy boundaries because five fielders remain inside the circle. As a team, both our fast bowlers and spinners are performing well together as a bowling unit in every match, which is a good sign,” said Jadeja after India secured a four-wicket win and sealed the series at the Barabati Stadium here on Sunday night.

Jadeja said playing domestic cricket prior to the ODI series helped him. “It feels really good (to play ODIs again), especially after almost two years since the World Cup. Coming back into this format requires quick adaptation, but I believe the domestic matches I played helped me a lot. In those matches, I bowled over 30 overs, which helped me maintain my rhythm.

“Like Tests, I tried to maintain a similar line and length in ODIs. The rhythm remained intact because the break wasn’t too long,” said Jadeja, looking forward to a fruitful outing in the Champions Trophy.