R Ashwin plays down competition with Jadeja for all-rounder's spot in Australia

Ravichandran Ashwin backed Ravindra Jadeja for a spot in the upcoming Australia series, dismissing any competition between them. Ashwin praised Jadeja's milestone of 300 wickets and 3000 runs, highlighting his brilliance in Test cricket.

In Short

• Ashwin backed Jadeja for India’s Test series against Australia
• Jadeja reached 300 Test wickets and 3000 runs during the series
• Ashwin and Jadeja rescued India with a 199-run partnership

India’s ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed that he fully backs Ravindra Jadeja to be part of the squad for the upcoming Test series against Australia and emphasized that he is not competing with his fellow teammate for a spot. Both Ashwin and Jadeja delivered outstanding all-round performances in India’s recent 2-0 Test series triumph against Bangladesh, and Ashwin hopes for much of the same when they face Australia in November.

In the Chennai Test against Bangladesh, Ashwin and Jadeja's crucial 199-run partnership rescued India from a potential collapse after early wickets. This batting brilliance helped India take control of the game. Speaking during the post-match press conference, Ashwin dismissed any notion of rivalry between him and Jadeja, expressing confidence in Jadeja’s ability to shine if selected for the Australia tour.

"It's very simple for me. If he plays, I'll back him all day, all night. I have to. I have repeated this again and again. It doesn't cross my head any more at all (competing with Jadeja). If he is the one that has to play, he is the one that has to play, and I have complete faith, and I've got his back when he goes out there to play," Ashwin said.

"Like I said, going to another country, especially a country like Australia or England and your team putting in an extraordinary performance and us winning a test match makes it incredible, makes me an incredibly proud Indian," Ashwin added.

Ashwin praised Jadeja for reaching the milestone of 300 Test wickets, making him the first player to achieve that feat alongside 3000 Test runs. Ashwin highlighted that this milestone underscores Jadeja’s brilliance in the longest format of the game, calling it a testament to his all-round abilities.

"He's the second left arm spinner to get 300 wickets. I think he's got 3000 runs. These are no mean achievements, right? It's just that sometimes when you miss out, you feel you're missing out and nobody likes missing out. But the fact of the matter is, India is blessed to have two bowlers who can play in the same spot and are good enough," Ashwin added.

In addition to their batting heroics, Ashwin and Jadeja’s bowling was equally crucial in the series against Bangladesh. The duo, along with pacer Jasprit Bumrah, picked up three wickets each in the second Test, as India bundled out Bangladesh for 146 runs in just two and a half days, securing an easy chase of 95 runs to win the match.

Ashwin’s support for Jadeja showcases the strong camaraderie and mutual respect between two of India’s leading spinners. As India now prepares for the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, both players will likely play key roles in the team’s quest for success against Australia.