India banking on all-rounder Kedar Jadhav to turn the tide

India vs West Indies 4th ODI Preview: Kedar Jadhav is expected to replace Rishabh Pant in the middle order. His presence not only provides a solution to the worrisome Indian middle order but also gives Virat Kohli an extra option with the ball, one he has been desperately looking for in this series.

In a much-needed boost to Team India ahead of the crucial fourth ODI at Mumbai against West Indies, middle-order batsman Kedar Jadhav joined the squad and is certain to bat at No. 6.

Jadhav, one of the two all-rounders along with Pandya that Indian captain Virat Kohli spoke about after India’s 43-run loss to the visitors in the 3^rd ODI at Pune, was added to the squad for the final two ODIs after proving his fitness in one of the Deodhar Trophy matches for India A.

Jadhav is expected to replace Rishabh Pant in the middle order. His presence not only provides a solution to the worrisome Indian middle order but also gives Virat Kohli an extra option with the ball, one he has been desperately looking for in this series.

"Kedar comes into the side in the next game, that'll give us the balance and depth in the batting You will always drift to one side when you don't have the balance. We have to think about the perfect balance we need," the skipper had said after the defeat.

Despite juggling between five different medium pacers and three specialist spinners, India have not yet found the perfect balance and right combination to stop an aggressive Windies batting line-up. West Indies notched up two consecutive 300+ scores for the first time in a decade and motored along effortlessly to put on 283 for 9 after being reduced to 227 for 8 couple of nights ago at Pune.

This is where Jadhav’s bowling comes in handy.  Jadhav’s low-arm off-spinners, which still remains an unsolved riddle for his opponents, has become a major part of him as a cricketer, almost forcing his primary skill set that of an attacking middle order bat to the backstage.

He had changed the course of the match twice in the Asia Cup – picking up two quick wickets after Bangladesh openers had put on 120 runs in the final and sending the Pakistan middle order packing in the group stages by prizing out Sarfraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Asif Ali in four overs.

But the bowling abilities has brought about its own set of troubles for Jadhav, making his hamstring susceptible to injuries. In the last 12 months he the hamstring injury has kept him out of action twice with the first one sustained during the IPL even requiring a surgery.

“I was never unfit, I still am not but since I’ve started bowling I’ve become prone to injuries,” Jadhav said after joining the team.

The injuries has a lot do with his bowling action which puts unbearable amount of pressure on his hamstring an groin when he releases the bowl from the lowest possible angle.

Jadhav’s dodgy hamstring even made the selectors apprehensive of picking him for the final three ODIs despite him regaining full fitness. But it is believed India’s shady performance in the first part of the series and the team managements liking towards him paved his way for the final two ODIs.