Ravindra Jadeja’s contributions with the bat in the lower-middle order was important in India avoiding a series defeat in the Test series in England last year.
When Shubman Gill and his teammates resume their World Test Championship campaign in the two-match series against Sri Lanka, beginning in Galle on August 15, Team India will certainly be benefited if Jadeja – having recovered from a tennis elbow injury – gets a century or even a 50-odd at No.6 or 7. But will it come across as a form of assurance that his place in the Test XI will be safe?
The answer may not be as easy as it seems.
“Jaddu has been a complete package, something that has been hugely beneficial for the Indian team. He’s still a gun fielder at 37, no doubt on that. But, can one say that he continues to be just as sharp with the ball as he used to be earlier? That’s certainly a tricky part,” a BCCI insider said on Wednesday.
“Yes, with the bat, his consistency has stood out, and maybe inability to produce his best with the ball made him more determined to make a statement with the bat, something we saw last year in England. But at present, with spinner all-rounders like Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey and even Saransh Jain having come up, India do have the options in the lower-middle order to provide the specialist batters with some extra cushion.
“So, Jadeja needs to fire with the ball as well. If it so happens in Sri Lanka that he scores runs but doesn’t prove to be too effective with the ball, it could be tough for him to hold on to his place in the Test team too,” the Board insider explained.
To be fair to Jadeja, he hasn’t really been at his best with the ball lately in the longest format. In England, though his services weren’t much required, Jadeja, despite all
his experience and credentials, was largely ineffective (1/104 in 24 overs) on a final-day wicket in Leeds, where India couldn’t defend a stiff 371-run target and lost the series opener.
Later last year, in the forgettable 0-2 home series loss to reigning WTC champions South Africa, Jadeja did finish with 10 wickets from the two matches, which included two four-wicket hauls. But then, his first four-for in the second innings of the opening Test at Eden Gardens came on an extremely challenging surface for batters, where India couldn’t even chase down 124 for victory. On that pitch too, Jadeja had given away 50 runs.
He had another second innings four-for (4/62) in the next Test in Guwahati, but at a time when the Proteas had already pressed on the accelerator to announce a declaration.
The figures may talk in his favour. But if one delves deeper to find out the actual situation when Jadeja got those wickets and to what extent they helped India, a different picture gets portrayed.
At present in the Indian cricket fraternity, not everyone believe it could be the end of the road for Jadeja if the Sri Lanka tour doesn’t go too well for him.
“See, considering all his achievements and his contributions to Indian cricket, and the stability he provides to that lower-middle order, one may see him till the end of
the home series versus Australia (starting early in 2027). The team may need his experience against Australia,” a source said.
“But yes, this appears to be Jaddu’s last WTC cycle. Beyond the current one, it’s quite difficult to see him continuing to be there for the next cycle… Will be a bit surprising if he continues,” the official added.
Ranked fifth at present in the WTC standings and their chances of making the final already having taken a backseat, India, though, will be quite pleased if their premier spinner all-rounder lives up to his reputation.