BGT 2024-25: Jadeja Claims Hazlewood's Absence Eases India's Challenge in Adelaide
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New Delhi, Nov 30 (NationPress) Former Indian captain Ajay Jadeja opines that the exclusion of Australian fast-bowler Josh Hazlewood from the forthcoming second Test at the Adelaide Oval, which starts on December 6, will certainly make things less challenging for the Rohit Sharma-led squad.
Hazlewood has been sidelined due to a side strain, leading to uncapped pacers Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett receiving call-ups to the Test squad for this pink-ball Test. In the previous Test at Perth, Hazlewood had taken five wickets during Australia’s 295-run loss to India.
In the last pink-ball Test between Australia and India in Adelaide in 2020, Hazlewood was instrumental, claiming an impressive 5-8 in just five overs as India crumbled to a mere 36 runs in their second innings.
“Despite Hazlewood’s five wickets, we emerged victorious in Perth. His absence should ideally ease our task, unless a new star emerges, which is always a possibility in sports,” Jadeja remarked during an exclusive interview with IANS at the ‘TURF 2024’, the 14th Global Sports Summit hosted by FICCI in New Delhi.
For India, adjustments are anticipated in the top-order lineup as captain Rohit Sharma returns after missing the Perth Test due to paternity leave. Additionally, Shubman Gill appears to be recovering well from a left thumb injury.
“This creates a dilemma for the captain and the coach. It’s a good problem to have, deciding who to leave out, rather than searching for players who can win matches for you,” Jadeja added.
India is set to play a pink-ball Test after nearly two years, having last participated in such a match against Sri Lanka in March 2022 in Bengaluru. “Life is ever-changing. It used to be a sport where you woke up in the morning, but now peak performance is expected at 11:30 PM, which poses a unique challenge,” Jadeja explained.
In the recent IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, young players from Afghanistan attracted significant attention from all ten franchises. Players like Noor Ahmed (Rs 10 crore), Allah Ghazanfar (Rs 4.8 crore), Azmatullah Omarzai (Rs 2.8 crore), and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Rs 2 crore) received substantial contracts from teams such as Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Jadeja, who served as a mentor to Afghanistan during their stint in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup, expressed his joy at the recognition of the talent and skills of Afghan players by franchises in shaping their IPL rosters.
“I feel fortunate to have spent time with these remarkable players. The auction reflects market forces, indicating that those managing cricket in India recognize the value of players from that region,” he commented.
“However, a player's worth isn't solely determined by their auction price, as various factors influence the auction dynamics. It’s gratifying to see that the franchises are valuing these athletes, indicating a promising future for aspiring players from Afghanistan,” he concluded.
