R Ashwin hopes Ravindra Jadeja will be fit for India’s Test series against Australia at home

India has an important bilateral affair coming ahead of them where they will be facing Australia in a 4-match Test series that could very well define the shape of the upcoming WTC final in June 2023. As the antiquity of Indian surfaces for Tests go, it is all about spin that leaves the opposition unsettled.

India will have two fine options in Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin when Australia comes knocking but they will be hoping for Ravindra Jadeja to come fit with one of the biggest test frays lined up for the Men in Blue. 

Jadeja copped a knee injury during India’s battle against Hong Kong in the 2022 Asia Cup and has been undergoing his rehab at the NCA. BCCI has kept mum about the return of Ravindra Jadeja, considering the fact that they would want their best all-rounder to be fully fit before unleashing him in the international arcade.

Talking to the New Indian Express, Ravichandran Ashwin may have cleared the air around Jadeja’s return date, stating, “I put in a lot of work whenever a home series happens. I'm expecting (Ravindra) Jadeja to come through (be fit in time) but I like expanding more angles. I got some things in my head. I've been watching Australia play in Australia. I'd like to be working on some different angles, something new.”

He also shed some light about his own practice regime, adding, “I have started my training. I have been dreaming (about the series) and I've been doing some yoga. I've been religiously doing yoga over the last year or so. I think it's just helped me feel much better. As for the skills, I've definitely put in a lot of work on my batting. My batting has really been upscale over the last 18 months or so.”

Talking about the current phase of his career, Ashwin added, “Even at this stage of my career, I want to keep that benchmark going. This year I was supposed to play the Ranji Trophy, but what happened was I played the games in Bangladesh and when I came back, I had to look after my niggles a little bit. I have just taken a small break and I'm putting myself through a four-week programme where I'm strengthening my entire body.”