Cricket careers often reach moments where past success is no longer enough and Ravichandran Ashwin believes Ravindra Jadeja is standing at exactly that crossroads. Speaking candidly, Ashwin urged his long-time spin partner to loosen up, trust experimentation, and embrace change the way Virat Kohli has done during periods of intense scrutiny.
R Ashwin revealed that he has repeatedly encouraged Ravindra Jadeja to explore new ideas with the ball and avoid becoming rigid in his approach. However, convincing Jadeja has never been easy. Years of success have strengthened Jadeja’s belief in bowling a particular way and Ashwin admitted that his teammate is deeply set in his methods because they have worked for so long.
There is no denying Ravindra Jadeja’s brilliance. He is widely regarded as one of the best spinners in the world at relentlessly hitting the same areas, extracting either sharp turn or subtle deviation. His pace through the air, faster than most spinners, gives batters very little time to adjust. Yet, Ashwin pointed out that this very strength can become a limitation on flatter pitches where slower speeds, more flight and variation are often required to create chances.
R Ashwin explained that Ravindra Jadeja prefers to operate strictly within what he trusts and believes in. Expecting him to suddenly slow down or dramatically change his style during matches is unrealistic because he has always relied on his strengths rather than pushing beyond them. From Ashwin’s perspective as a teammate and friend, that mindset can sometimes hold a player back during difficult phases.
He shared that he often tells Ravindra Jadeja there is nothing to lose by trying something different. Ashwin believes that whether a player sticks stubbornly to old methods or experiments and fails, the outcome can be the same in terms of selection. But if experimentation works, it can revive a career. His message has always been about shifting the mindset from fear of failure to optimism and curiosity. According to Ashwin, Jadeja has already achieved enough and no longer needs to prove himself to anyone.
Interestingly, Ashwin revealed that Ravindra Jadeja does experiment in practice. Over the years, he has tried variations like the carrom ball regularly in the nets but rarely brings them out in high-pressure international matches. Ashwin feels this gap between practice freedom and match-day caution is where the real issue lies.
Drawing a parallel, Ashwin highlighted Virat Kohli’s recent resurgence. He believes Virat Kohli’s ability to play without mental baggage, even when the pressure was at its peak, has strengthened his case for the 2027 World Cup. That sense of joy and freedom, Ashwin feels, is exactly what Jadeja needs now.
Ravindra Jadeja’s recent ODI series against New Zealand added urgency to the conversation. He failed to take a single wicket and made little impact with the bat, leading to growing speculation about the future of his white-ball career. Ashwin believes this phase mirrors Virat Kohli’s past struggles and that the solution lies not in technique alone but in mindset.
In Ashwin’s view, letting go, trusting one’s skill and playing with happiness can unlock another chapter. For a player as gifted as Ravindra Jadeja, reinvention may be challenging but it might also be the key to staying relevant at the highest level.
