"Post 2017, he is the most improved all-rounder" - Dinesh Karthik on Ravindra Jadeja

Dinesh Karthik believes that Team India's Ravindra Jadeja has improved significantly since 2017. He emphasized that the all-rounder has emerged to be a reliable option with both the bat and the ball for the Men in Blue.

Jadeja showed his class in the first innings of India's recently concluded Chennai Test against Bangladesh. The southpaw played a crucial 86-run knock, helping the hosts register 376.

Hailing Jadeja as the most improved all-rounder over the past few years, here's what Karthik said during a discussion on Cricbuzz:

"Post 2017, he is the most improved all-rounder. I think what he has learned is how to use his talent and convert it into results. He was always someone who could bat a bit, bowl well, but today, he's become that reliable batter. Under pressure he's got runs, you send him up the order, he gets runs, a good player of fast bowling."

Karthik also opined that Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel aren't the same type of players. Suggesting that Jadeja is a much more capable batter against pace, while Axar's strength is countering spin, he added:

"In fact, I feel Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are similar all-rounders, not the same. Their skills and strengths even in left-arm spin are different, and fast bowling as well. I feel Axar Patel is a much better player of spin as an all-rounder, whereas Ravindra Jadeja is a very good player of fast bowling."

Apart from his batting exploits, Ravindra Jadeja also did a fine job with the ball, bagging five wickets across two innings. India completed a comprehensive 280-run victory to go 1-0 up in the two-match series.

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"Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel will definitely come in place of Akash Deep" - Dinesh Karthik on India's playing XI for Kanpur Test

India went with three pacers and two spinners in the Test series opener against Bangladesh. However, Dinesh Karthik believes that the hosts should make one change for the upcoming second Test.

He reckoned that right-arm pacer Akash Deep might have to miss out, with one of Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel getting the nod over him. Stating that he would want Kuldeep to make the cut, Karthik remarked in the aforementioned video:

"I feel Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel will definitely come in place of Akash Deep. The pitch in Kanpur is not going to be too conducive to fast bowling. It'll stay low, black soil pitch, I've seen the UP Premier League that happened at a similar timeline last year, it's not a great place for fast bowlers to be bowling long spells. Kuldeep is my preferred option because he gives good variety to that attack and the local boy as well."

The second Test between India and Bangladesh will be played at Green Park in Kanpur from September 27.