New Delhi: From being just an all-rounder in the Indian team to becoming one of the pillar’s of India’s Test cricket dominance, Ravindra Jadeja has certainly come a long way. His tenacity, temperament and grit are a testament to his excellence in the most challenging format of the game, where even the mighty fail.
By proving his all-round Test prowess again and again, Jadeja has not only cemented his spot in the Indian team but also become one of the most dependable players in the unit. The southpaw’s recent performance against the depleted West Indies in the first Test match is a perfect example of his multifaceted skillsets, which are rarely seen in modern cricket.
Jadeja – One in a million
His all-round effort of 104 not out and 4 wickets with a disciplined bowling approach powered India to an innings and 140-run victory over the struggling West Indies side. While many would raise their hands to say that the all-rounder, despite all his brilliance, made a significant contribution in the victory but against a team which has lost all its sheen over the years but stats are there to prove his prowess against the powerhouses too.
Lord’s Test heroics
Earlier in the summer, he exhibited his brilliance, mental strength and fighting attitude as he stood tall alone in the Lord’s Test match against the mighty English side. The left-handed batter showcased immense resilience fighting like a lone warrior for over 34 overs but failed to guide the team home. Jadeja smashed an unbeaten knock of 61 in 181 balls which vividly states it all about his patience and courage to withstand a tough situation, particularly in Tests.
Though India lost the Lord’s Test match but Jadeja won a million hearts with his standout performance and fearless batting attitude against a bowling-heavy English side. Not only has he been doing it with the bat for the side, the all-rounder has been equally impactful with the ball and on the field as well. Considered as one of the most safe hands in Team India, Jadeja has been exquisite with his bowling skills across formats.
Rare skills make Jadeja rare of the rarest
As an all-rounder, Jadeja offers a rare combination of superlative bowling, tactical batting and exquisite fielding skills that make him one of the most valuable assets in Team India. Not only this, Jadeja possess an unique ability of performing under pressure and scoring crucial runs for his team. Additionally, he also holds the required cricketing experience to understand the stability needed by his team at a particular juncture in a contest.
Jadeja has evolved as a proper batter over the years reaching a new level with his defense tactics becoming solid as a mainstream batter. Showcasing calmness in tough situations is a key quality of a good batter and he has shown it on numerous occasions. Maintaining an impressive batting average of above 42 since 2018, Team India would want him to continue the flawless run in Tests in times to come.