Star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is going through an excellent phase with his on-field performances. Whenever he plays, he takes wickets as well as scores important runs down the batting order. His fielding is world-class and no one doubts his ability to make tough catches and scoring direct hits. Hence, he has become regular in India’s all three squads, and in the process, he outclassed Hardik Pandya as India’s No. 1 all-rounder.
However, things were not the same some three years back when Jadeja was merely getting game time let alone being the match-winner. When India toured England back in 2018, Ravichandran Ashwin was playing ahead of him as a spinner. But Jadeja got his chance in the final Test of that tour and he changed everything since then. He is now being called the best all-rounder in the world along with Ben Stokes.
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Former Indian player Aakash Chopra elaborated on Jadeja’s journey through the years and how he managed to rise high despite not playing regular cricket.
“Sir Ravindra Jadeja, no one knew Jaddu will reach till here. In fact, he had a very low point, he was banned from the IPL. This was in 2010 as he was negotiating a contract outside the laws of the IPL at that point in time,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“Later on, he was not getting picked in ODIs and T20Is as well when Kul-Cha were playing and he used to be behind Ashwin in Tests. So overall the career used to move and then stop, sometimes due to a ban and performance at other times. It took time for Jaddu’s true colours to come out.”
On that 2018 tour of England, Jadeja got his first chance in the fifth Test at Kennington Oval and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He took seven wickets in the game along with playing a scintillating knock of 86 runs in the first innings.
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“But to come back from that, the journey has been absolutely outstanding. The turning point of his career was the fifth Test against England in 2018 where he scored an unbeaten 86. He got confidence after that and has not looked back ever since,” Chopra added.
“Wherever he goes, he scores runs and takes wickets. He has been a match-winner and is doing everything you have asked him to do, whether you talk about ODIs, T20Is or Tests. His batting has improved and fielding is absolutely outstanding.”
Jadeja’s high-quality all-around skills may force the Indian team management to field two spinners for the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand in Southampton, scheduled to be played on June 18.
