Sometimes rockstars too can do their job without making much noise. “Rockstar”, as Shane Warne fondly used to call Ravindra Jadeja, showed it once again.
This time with a five-for against South Africa at Eden Gardens on Sunday.
Team India’s batsmen and bowlers have fired in unison en route to the semi-finals of the ongoing World Cup. Speaking of the bowling group, it’s the quicks in particular whose early inroads have made the task easier for Rohit Sharma and Co.
That said, the team management also understands and values the role quietly played by Jadeja, especially during those middle overs. After the pacers have put the opponents on the back foot, Jadeja, with able support from fellow left-armer Kuldeep Yadav, ensures the stranglehold on the rival batters doesn’t loosen and that the pressure keeps mounting on them.
That has been critical to India’s smooth sailing so far in this showpiece. Jadeja may not have the kind of variation that chinaman bowler Kuldeep has, but just as he has proved in the longest format, his accuracy can be deadly in white-ball cricket as well.
“I think Jadeja’s performances have been loud and clear for everyone. Ranking-wise, he’s behind the top all-rounder in ODIs, Shakib-Al Hasan, but look at the kind of impact Jadeja (No.13 in ODI rankings) has and that of Shakib in this World Cup with both bat and ball.
“The performances of the two present a picture clear enough,” former national selector Sunil Joshi, who represented India in 15 Tests and 69 ODIs, told The Telegraph on Monday.
“Not just with his batting and bowling, but even with his fielding — be it inside the circle or at the deep — his contribution is equally huge. He’s a complete package as an all-rounder.”
When it comes to Jadeja’s self-analysis, it’s all about his extra preparation and effort. “As an all-rounder, it is our role to score 30-35 or 40 runs in a tough situation and taking a wicket or two when a partnership is in place. That’s our role.
“I always try to give an impactful performance in batting or bowling when the team needs me in any department. And I never take fielding for granted.
“I also feel that I may miss a catch, so that makes me prepare extra and ensure I don’t relax on the field. I always tell myself to keep trying and that’s what I do,” Jadeja
said following his outstanding spell of bowling against the Proteas.
Joshi, too, agreed that pinpoint accuracy is Jadeja’s biggest strength.
“You can’t compare Jadeja with a Kuldeep because the latter is of a different type. Being a chinaman bowler, he’ll obviously be having his set of variations.
“But for Jadeja, of course, his accuracy is his biggest strength. And that’s not all. He can vary the pace, can extract a fair amount of turn, make good use of the seam and bowl with a repeatable action.
“If you have someone in your side who can keep bowling with a repeatable action, that’s one huge advantage for you. Just the kind of advantage Jadeja provides to his team,” Joshi emphasised.
The job isn’t yet over for Jadeja as he will again need to step up and help India cross the semi-final hurdle, which has been a tricky one for the team since the 2015 World Cup. However, what augurs well for the team is Jadeja being in a good frame of mind at present.
“I feel happy that in an important tournament and in important matches, I am delivering with both bat and ball. It feels good.
“More important games are coming up, but I am confident about my individual performance,” Jadeja said.
