New Delhi: Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who pipped fellow teammate Ravichandran Ashwin to grab No. 1 spot in ICC Test bowlers' rankings, had earned himself a new nickname from skipper Virat Kohli.
The Indian captain – on his flight to Dharmasala for the 4th and final Test against Australia – uploaded a picture of him with Jadeja with caption, "Off to Dharamshala for the last one. With the bowling machine".
Kohli, who himself is nicknamed as 'run machine' named Jaddu 'bowling machine' and his contribution to India's successful home season, begining from the Test series against New Zealand in 2016, justifies that.
Off to Dharamshala for the last one. With the bowling machine ✌️@imjadeja pic.twitter.com/OAG8Kgh57B
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 21, 2017
In the press conference post Ranchi Test, a reporter revealed that Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have together bowled over 4000 balls this home season, a fact that Kohli was shocked to know.
"How many, how many? Oh..." Kohli said in disbelief. "I did not know, that sounds a lot! We have got to see how many games we want to play them in terms of the shorter formats and going forward if we have a hectic season, because they are very valuable Test bowlers for us.
"That is the only way you can manage workloads because during a game, you can't think of the fact that he bowled 3000 balls in the season and I need to make him stop because if you want to win a game, you need to push guys. It is different formats when they arrive and that is where you can manage workloads and you certainly want to look into it.
"We have done that in the past as well. And that's certainly going to be followed in the future because you need to maintain a core group of Test bowlers that you need all the time and it is not a difficult thing to do. But yes, one should be aware of that," he added.
India next take on Australia in Dharmsala, a pitch that is likely to offer more support to seamers than the earlier three did, with the Test begining from March 25.
