Ravindra Jadeja continues to feature India’s playing XI as the sole spin-bowling option despite several calls for Ravichandran Ashwin’s inclusion. Though there’s no denying that Jadeja is a better batsman in comparison to Ashwin, hence giving more steel to India’s middle order, Sanjay Manjrekar feels the southpaw’s ability with the bat is being overestimated.

Jadeja, quite surprisingly, came ahead of Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant, batting at the No. 5 spot for India on Day 1 of the 4th Test at Headingley. The promotion didn’t quite reap the required dividends as England pacers continued to deceive Jadeja with their swinging deliveries.

The left-hander departed after scoring just 10 runs from 34 balls, hence putting a big question mark on the team management’s plan. Former India cricketer Manjrekar, analysing the situation, felt that the team was wrong to promote Jadeja in seam-friendly overseas conditions.

“I think the T20 way of thinking has come in. I think they overestimated the ability of Jadeja to play at No. 5. In these conditions, it was a disaster waiting for him. I think Indian cricket is overestimating Jadeja’s batting ability in overseas conditions,” said Manjrekar on Sony Sports.

The cricketer-turned-pundit opined that using Jadeja at No. 5 spot in the sub-continent is a good idea but one can’t expect him to deliver in the same manner on English wickets.

“In India, send him at No. 5, there is going to be no problem. In these conditions, we saw while he was out there when the ball was swinging, he didn’t look comfortable,” added Manjrekar.

While Manjrekar has openly questioned Jadeja’s inclusion in the match, there are many experts who were left baffled by R Ashwin’s absence from the 4th match of the series. While there’s no guarantee that Ashwin will feature in the 5th and the final Test in Manchester, the Indian team management will be under pressure to make the change if India don’t get a favourable result from the Oval Test.