# Ashwin says Jadeja no longer an attacking spinner 2026-08-20T16:52:44+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Ravichandran Ashwin has said that Ravindra Jadeja is no longer the attacking spinner he once was, with his role in the Indian team having evolved. Ashwin's blunt verdict came despite Jadeja picking up four wickets in the recent match. According to Ashwin, Jadeja's contributions are now more significant as a middle-order batter than as a frontline wicket-taking bowler. The assessment reflects a shift in how the all-rounder is perceived within the team setup. Jadeja has been a key figure in Indian cricket across formats, known for his left-arm spin and explosive batting. His recent performances with the bat in Test cricket have strengthened India's lower middle order. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The remark from Ashwin, himself a legendary spinner, carries weight because it comes from a long-time teammate who has shared the dressing room with Jadeja for over a decade. Jadeja's batting average in Test cricket since 2020 is over 40, while his bowling average has crept above 30, reversing his earlier profile of a bowler who could bat. For India, this trade-off is manageable because Jadeja's batting allows the team to play five bowlers without weakening the batting order. The real question is whether the team can afford a frontline spinner who takes wickets less frequently on pitches that do not assist spin. Watch for Jadeja's bowling strike rate in the upcoming home season: if it stays above 60, the debate over his role will only intensify. ## Coverage - sports.ndtv.com Straight reporting of Ashwin's comment with no editorial spin or added context. This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Indian cricket team, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ashwin-says-jadeja-no-longer-an-attacking-spinner/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ashwin-says-jadeja-no-longer-an-attacking-spinner/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/