After becoming healthy again, Jadeja is expected to play in the India XI against South Africa in the second Test, but not in place of Ashwin

There is some bright spot for Team India in the shape of Ravindra Jadeja, despite all the heartbreaks of losing by an innings and 32 runs against South Africa in the Boxing Day Test and the news the next day of losing two more WTC points because of a sluggish over rate. The great all-rounder has resumed training and is probably going to be fit for selection for the New Year’s Test in Cape Town. He missed the series opener in Centurion owing to an upper back spasm that he felt on the morning of the Test match.

Due to his better batting ability in foreign circumstances, Jadeja was always the favorite at No. 7 over R Ashwin; nonetheless, India was forced to start the first Test with their best spinner. In circumstances that were not ideal for spinners, Ashwin performed rather well with the ball, going 1 for 41 in his 19 overs. However, India felt that Jadeja was missing at the bat. With the ball, the left-hander may have performed a similar hold-up job, but he was more suited to manage the speed and bounce of the South African fast bowlers with the bat.

Jadeja participated in the warm-up before the competition began on Day 3, according to news agency PTI. During the morning practice, the all-rounder took many short strides of 30 to 40 meters without seeming to be in any kind of difficulty.

Throughout the lesson, he also performed a few fitness exercises.

The thing that gave me the greatest comfort, however, was seeing him bowl during the third day’s lunch break. Rajnikant, the team’s health and conditioning coach, observed closely as Jadeja bowled on a practice track for over twenty minutes with backup pacer Mukesh Kumar.

Despite having a two-step run-up, he was mostly spot-bowling. In addition to often hitting the mark, he was also seen turning a few.

The nicest thing was that he didn’t seem nervous at all while he was bowling throughout the little session.

India will probably play Ashwin and Jadeja in the second Test.
There is a good chance that Jadeja will make a comeback for the last and second Test in Cape Town, which is still four days away. However, it may not take Ashwin’s position. The Indian team management might be tempted to play both Ashwin and Jadeja after Shardul Thakur’s performance as the fourth seamer. If nothing else, they can at least keep one end up so that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj may attack from the other end.

Avesh Khan, who was in South Africa earlier with the India A squad, has also been called up by India for the Cape Town Test. This almost guarantees that Prasidh Krishan won’t likely continue in his position. In the next Test, India’s bowling arsenal may seem different with two spinners and three seamers in the lineup. Additionally, as the match goes on, the Cape Town ground should be more favorable for spinners.