Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja has reckoned that the Indian team, led by Shreyas Iyer, could secure only 60 per cent marks in the just-concluded five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
Speaking on Sony Sports, Jadeja asserted that the Indian team got only 60 marks and missed the remaining 40 after losing the last two games of the five-match T20I series. Eventually, India managed to win the T20I series 3-2.
“You can get 100 marks in a board exam. You have the pre-board first. You got 60 in the pre-board itself and 60 in the board as well. It’s not like there was a minus because you lost the last two matches, but the 60 you got in the pre-board, and there was time after that, you didn’t progress from there. You got 60 marks, but missed the remaining 40,” Jadeja said.
It’s worth noting that all-rounder Shivam Dube didn’t play a single game with Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy playing over him. On the other hand, Axar Patel played the first four matches but was replaced by Varun Chakaravarthy in the fifth game.
“As a team, you fulfilled your aim, but there is a different aim. I believe the Indian team is never stagnant. It’s a journey. We probably lost two or three players in this series. You left out Shivam Dube before the first match,” Jadeja added.
“That was a loss, and before leaving you lost Axar Patel, who was the vice-captain some time ago. These two players went out of the XI. What did you gain? You spoke about Naman Dhir. Has he taken Shivam Dube’s place or not?” he noted.
With the T20I series ending 3-2 in India’s favour, the action now shifts to the five-match ODI series, commencing on Wednesday, November 4 at Eden Park in Auckland.
