Ravichandran Ashwin has raised a red flag over Ravindra Jadeja's cautious batting against spin in T20 cricket, pointing to a persistent limitation in the all-rounder's game that has only grown more pronounced in recent years.

The former India off-spinner, speaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, highlighted that Jadeja's strike rate against spin has been a concern since the 2020 IPL season. Between 2020 and 2025, Jadeja managed a strike rate of just 94.28 against slow bowlers—among the lowest for regular middle-order batters—while averaging only 21.22 against spin since 2018. His troubles are especially acute against spinners who turn the ball away from him, where his strike rate dips well below 100.

The issue has carried over into IPL 2026. Through 117 balls this season, Jadeja has hit just two sixes, and his boundary percentage across all types of bowling remains alarmingly low. These numbers paint a clear picture: rather than looking to dominate the middle overs, Jadeja has been content to absorb pressure and let the game drift.

For Rajasthan Royals this season, Jadeja's role has become more passive. He's been tasked with stabilizing the innings during spin-heavy phases instead of taking the attack to the bowlers. This was on full display in yesterday's clash against Delhi Capitals, where Jadeja was promoted ahead of Donovan Ferreira but managed just 20 off 14 balls before falling to Mitchell Starc.

Ashwin didn't hold back in his assessment: "Many people, including coaches, have spoken to Ravindra Jadeja about taking on spinners more aggressively, but he is not listening. During the 2024 T20 World Cup, whenever India needed a left-hander up the order, they chose Axar Patel over the more experienced Jadeja. The reason is simple—Axar doesn't hesitate. He takes on spinners and every other bowler with confidence."

Drawing a striking comparison, Ashwin suggested Jadeja's mindset mirrors that of MS Dhoni—preferring to take the game deep and target pacers rather than dominate spin in the middle overs. While that template worked brilliantly for Dhoni in his prime, the modern T20 game demands batters who can accelerate against all types of bowling, especially in the crucial middle phase. For Jadeja, the question remains whether he can adapt before teams begin to exploit this weakness even further.