Rohit Sharma is keen to use Ravindra Jadeja “a lot more with the bat” as the premier Indian allrounder continues to enjoy a rapid rise in his stocks after a tremendous performance in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali. Jadeja dominated with bat and ball in India’s handsome victory by an innings & 222 runs.
The 33-year-old made his highest Test match score – an unbeaten 175 not out – versus Sri Lanka, becoming the record holder for the best individual score by an Indian batting at No.7 or below in Test cricket. He went past the legendary Kapil Dev in this list and allowed India to post a daunting 574/8 dec.
Later, he picked up figures of 5/41 and 4/46 in a match-haul of nine scalps to assert his status as one of the world’s best Test allrounders, if not the best.
Jadeja has been contributing in either department consistently for over five years now. He was always a quality second spinner to India’s lead tweaker Ravichandran Ashwin but has now transitioned into a robust allround cricketer, so much so that he pips Ashwin in Test selection overseas when there is space for only one of them.
Since the start of 2017, he has scored 1,522 runs from 35 Tests at an average of 46.12 while also taking 130 wickets at 24.46 per piece, making himself one of the most important members on the team sheet, which was evident through his costly absence on the tour of South Africa in December-January.
“As a captain, I want to use Jadeja a lot more with the bat. We all know his bowling and everyone knows about his fielding. To me, he is one of the top (all-rounders) definitely. Look at the performances. To score 175 not out and take nine wickets in the game, he’s just upping his game every time we see him,”
Rohit told the press after the comprehensive win in Mohali.
Chances are Jadeja’s incredible batting form could make him a beneficiary of the transition that India’s Test match batting unit is going through. Following the ouster of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, there are two vacant spots in the side. In Mohali, India replaced Pujara with Hanuma Vihari at 3 and when everyone expected them to place Shreyas Iyer at 5 for Rahane, the think-tank used wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in a tactical ploy.
The idea of sending Pant at five was obvious to those watching, as India aimed to counter Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya. But while Pant did very well for his terrific 96, many felt India could’ve sent Jadeja in with the same thought process.
In his previous Test for India – at The Oval in England last year – India used Jadeja at five as a cushion and cover for the struggling Rahane. It is not just the runs but his improved technical acumen that could inspire Jadeja’s promotion on a more consistent basis.
“In the past as well, when we played in India, his contribution with the bat lower down the order and taking those crucial wickets (has been great). You know, he just seems to be adding a lot more to his game every time he plays.
He’s very hungry, as you can see. That hunger is something that drives athletes to move forward. I see that in Jadeja clearly. He’s quite hungry for success, for runs and do well for the team.”
Rohit said.
The next Test against Sri Lanka, which is a D/N pink-ball affair, begins on March 12 in Bangalore.
