Ravindra Jadeja, who suffered a thumb injury during the Australia tour, is likely to be ruled out for at least a part of the upcoming Tests against England. A look at the possible options in his absence for the series.

The absence of Ravindra Jadeja is likely to be a major part of the selection discussion for India ahead of the upcoming series against England at home. A brilliant bowler and fielder, Jadeja’s contributions with the bat over the last couple of years have made replacing him with a like-for-like player close to impossible.

Axar Patel

Part of India’s limited-overs outfits from 2014 to 2017, Axar Patel seems to have brought a distinct change of late, which was evident during IPL 2020 with his variations in pace. Prepared to toss the ball up rather than darting it in every delivery, Axar showed he has become a more versatile spinner from the time he last played for India. He has stood out in his recent first-class matches as well, picking up 27 wickets in the 2019/20 season at an average of 24.07, his best in any Ranji Trophy season since 2013/14.

Washington Sundar

Used as a net bowler in Australia after featuring in the T20I series, Washington Sundar’s quick progress over the last few years could see him potentially bag a Test cap soon, despite his limited experience in first-class cricket. A handy lower-order batsman, Sundar could also be used in a similar role to that of Jadeja in the batting line-up.