Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell underlined the crucial role that the Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will play in determining the outcome of the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. This five-match Test series, beginning on November 22, marks the first time since 1991-92 that India and Australia will face off in a series of this length.
Maxwell highlights importance of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Ashwin and Jadeja have been instrumental in establishing India as a dominant force in Test cricket. Their exceptional all-round performances have made them invaluable assets to the Indian team. Maxwell acknowledged the duo's impressive bowling skills and highlighted their significance in contributing to India's success.
"I think that over a long period of time, having played against guys like Ashwin and Jadeja, those two seem to have always been the ones we've faced consistently, and the battles we've had with them have often dictated the outcome of the game," Maxwell told Star Sports.
Ashwin and Jadeja's dominance
Ashwin and Jadeja have been in exceptional form, playing a pivotal role in India's victory in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. Ashwin contributed significantly with a magnificent 113-run innings and a five-wicket haul, while Jadeja scored 86 runs and claimed five wickets across both innings. Maxwell recognised the significant impact of Ashwin and Jadeja on the Indian team. He emphasized the importance of batting effectively against these two star performers.
“If we play well against those two (Ashwin, Jadeja), we'll generally find ourselves in a better position compared to when they've had a field day and run through us. Those two guys have been there for most of my career, being of a similar age,” he added.
In his continued remarks, Maxwell also praised the remarkable journey of speedster Jasprit Bumrah and shared his initial impression of him during MI nets in 2013.
“And probably, more recently, Jasprit Bumrah. I was there in his first year of the IPL in 2013 at Mumbai and pretty much faced him every day in the nets. To see him evolve from a young, untapped talent to what he is now—the probably best bowler across all three formats—is a pretty amazing story,” he said.
Bumrah recently returned to international cricket after a lengthy absence following India's victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. In his comeback match, he demonstrated his continued prowess by claiming five wickets. Bumrah is expected to play a crucial role for India in the upcoming tour of Australia, where he has previously wreaked havoc in the last two visits.
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