"They are the aging spinners" - Aakash Chopra after Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja's underwhelming performances in IND vs NZ 2024 2nd Test

Aakash Chopra has noted that Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja weren't at their best in the second Test between India and New Zealand in Pune. He pointed out that the two spinners are aging and that the team management and selectors will have to formulate a transition plan for them very soon.

India suffered a 113-run loss against the Kiwis on Saturday, October 26. Washington Sundar picked up 11 wickets in the game and outbowled his more illustrious fellow spinners.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener noted that the New Zealand spinners, especially Mitchell Santner, and Sundar outperformed Ashwin and Jadeja. He added that Rohit Sharma and company might have to prepare a transition plan for the two veteran spinners.

"You believe spin is our strength. However, are we bowling spin well? That is another big question because we were outbowled. Of course, Washington Sundar changed the game totally. He bowled a few overs and picked up a lot of wickets. You say 'brilliant' when you see his performance," he said (5:55).

"However, if Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are playing together and don't do that well, you start feeling, although Ravichandran Ashwin was the Player of the Series recently. He works his way out. However, the question is going to come very soon that there will be a transition for them as well. They are the aging spinners," Chopra added.

Ashwin picked up three wickets in the first innings and two in the second. Jadeja went wicketless in the first essay and accounted for three dismissals in the second.

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"I feel India are missing a trick" - Aakash Chopra on Kuldeep Yadav not being groomed as part of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja's transition plan

Kuldeep Yadav wasn't part of India's playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand. [P/C: BCCI]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that the replacements for Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja need to be groomed and Kuldeep Yadav hasn't been treated properly.

"In such a scenario, I feel India are missing a trick. Ashwin will go first because he is more aged. Jadeja is fitter and younger as well. So he will stay for longer. You need to start grooming. You started giving a chance to Washington Sundar now but you didn't do the right thing with Kuldeep," he said (6:45).

The renowned commentator added that the left-arm wrist-spinner could be a lethal weapon against modern-day batters.

"You are not preparing Kuldeep and he is that guy because modern-day batters surrender against such wrist spin. However, we are not playing him. We are not being honest with him in a sense. He is being sent for injury management although he is available for the Mumbai match," Chopra observed.

Chopra pointed out that if Kuldeep is available or can play the Mumbai Test against New Zealand, he could have been taken for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well, considering that the Melbourne and Sydney Tests are two months away. He questioned that if the team management is unable to prepare him, how would they make a place for the others.