Ravindra Jadeja defends India’s ‘experiments’ in ODI series against West Indies | Cricket News

After several questions raised over India’s experiments with team selection and batting order in the ongoing ODI series against the West Indies, an undeterred Ravindra Jadeja said “this is the right time to experiment” with big tournaments lined up ahead.

“Coming before the Asia Cup and the World Cup, this is the right time to experiment with team combinations and try players at different positions,” Jadeja told reporters on Monday.

With the three-match ODI series levelled at 1-1 going into the decider on Tuesday, Jadeja assured fans that the team is determined to put in its best effort to secure a series win.

For India, the series is a crucial preparation for their upcoming campaigns in the Asia Cup, scheduled later this month, and the World Cup at home, taking place in October-November. West Indies failed to qualify for the ODI World Cup for the first time.
In the first ODI, which India won by five wickets, skipper Rohit Sharma batted at number seven and Virat Kohli was also held back, as the team management chose to test its young batters.

In the second match of the series, both Rohit and Kohli rested themselves, as Hardik Pandya stood in as skipper. India lost that game by six wickets.
Jadeja doesn’t see that as anything to worry about.
“It (experimenting) gives you a good idea about what the team balance should be like, and what would be the ideal combination. If we need to do any chop and change, this is the right time.”

It, however, remains unclear whether Rohit and Kohli will return for the third ODI, but Jadeja added that the team is high on confidence to deliver a win.
“We know we lost a game but if you are trying different things, that can happen,” he said. “But we are confident, and there’s nothing to worry. We are going to play our best cricket and give our best to win the series.”

(With agency inputs)