'Dinesh Karthik can have a seat beside me as commentator. I won't pick him in Indian team': Jadeja's brave statement

Although Jadeja did not pick India's T20 World Cup squad as certain, but he did hint at what he feels the playing XI of the Indian team should look like for the big tournament.

India are two months are from travelling to Australia for the 2022 T20 World Cup. And while the audition for a place in the final 15 continues for all, barring a few names, veterans and experts have continued to place their opinion on how the team should look like and who should be part of the team. Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja joined the bandwagon. And although he did not pick the squad as certain, but he did hint at what he feels the playing XI of the Indian team should look like for the big tournament.

India's Dinesh Karthik is bowled out by West Indies' Obed McCoy during the fourth T20 cricket match(AP)

Speaking to Fan Code before the start of the fifth and final T20I match between India and West Indies in Florida on Sunday, Jadeja picked his bowling attack which comprised of three pacers and a spinner. Notably, he picked Mohammed Shami, who did not play a single T20I match for India since the last World Cup and dropped Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has been the highest wicket-taker for India during the period.

“I have added Shami to the team. So for me, I select bowlers first. So Shami is a certainty. Bumrah, Arshdeep and Chahal. These are the four certainties. In batting, four are certainties for me - Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Deepak Hooda. For this bowling attack, you have powerplay, middle overs and death overs sorted. You can bowl them anywhere. Even for the batters, they are flexible," he said.

India have changed their approach in batting in T20I cricket. From a conservative approach, India, under Rohit Sharma, have adopted an aggressive brand of cricket. Pointing out India's new batting strategy, Jadeja opined that if they maintain it then former India captain Kohli might be dropped from the side. However, he explained that if India go the MS Dhoni way, the selectors will keep Kohli and will then have to pick Dinesh Karthik in the XI as well.

“Now if you want to play the way I have heard them...aggressive then you have to pick differently. If Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma walks in, you need Dinesh Karthik at all cost. He is your insurance. But if you don't have either of them then Dinesh Karthik has no work here. But yes I would not put Karthik there, he can have a seat beside me. He is very good as a commentator. But there, in the team, I would not pick him. Now the decision is whether you want to play Ravindra or Axar. If it's Dhoni style, then add Kohli, Rohit and Karthik. But in modern-day cricket, you have to leave out Karthik. Maybe even Kohli depends on whether he is in form or not.” he explained.