World Cup 2023: Why Ravindra Jadeja should be praised and what Rohit Sharma said about all-rounder after SA win

Add as a preferred source on Google

World Cup 2023: Ravindra Jadeja was praised handsomely by captain Rohit Sharma after India's emphatic win over South Africa by 243 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.

India were clinical in their performance once again and complete team effort was once again on display. Virat Kohli brought up his much-awaited record-equalling 49th birthday on his 35th birthday, Shreyas Iyer smashed his second consecutive fifty, Rohit Sharma gave India another flying start and India pacers again hit the bullseye.

Kohli got the Man of the Match Award for his milestone hundred, but Jadeja was not far behind to lay his hands on it. In fact, if that was not 'THE 49th HUNDRED', Jadeja would have pipped Kohli for the award.

The 34-year-old Under-19 teammate of Virat Kohli, first scored crucial 29 not out runs off 15 balls. His strike rate of 193.33 was the highest in the match. The knock took India past the above-par total on a slow and difficult batting surface.

Jadeja used the conditions to the best of his ability and ransacked the South African batting unit, which has posted 350-plus total four times in the tournament, with his left-arm spin bowling. The Saurashtra star picked five wickets for 33 runs in nine overs to become only the second Indian spinner after Yuvraj Singh to register a five-fer in the World Cup.

World Cup 2023: Why Ravindra Jadeja deserves more praise

Jadeja's batting form was a concern ahead of the World Cup 2023. His last fifty in the format had come back in December 2020. Scores of Jadeja in 11 innings before the World Cup were - 35, 13*, 3*, 7, 4, 14, 8*, 10, 16*, 18, 16.

Jadeja did not get a chance to bat in the first four matches in the World Cup 2023. Hardik Pandya injury in India's fourth match against Bangladesh came as a big setback for India. He gave depth to India's batting and bowling.

With Jadeja not at his best with the bat, India were skeptical of any scenario in which the top six failed to deliver. To tackle the issue, Suryakumar Yadav was brought in immediately for the fifth match against New Zealand in bowling-friendly Dharamsala.

However, he got out for two runs, and it was Ravindra Jadeja who rose to the occasion and fired 39 not out runs off 44 balls to take India over the line. India were five down for 191 while chasing 275. Jadeja showed tremendous maturity in the gritty situation and finished the match with a four.

Even in the match against Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, it was Jadeja's 24-ball 35 which took the team past 350. Jadeja's strike rate of 145.83 was second only to Shreyas Iyer's 146.43.

Jadeja has been there with the ball since game one against Australia when he picked the wickets of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey. The five-time champions were bundled out for 199. With 14 wickets at an average of 17.36, Jadeja is joint sixth-highest wicket-taker in the World Cup 2023.

Ravindra Jadeja has upped his game in the absence of Hardik Pandya. He is not only scoring runs, but scoring them at a strike rate which are best suited for the team. He has done his job with the ball, and on the field like always, the southpaw has been a live wire.

Like Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja will also turn 35 next month. He has been with the team for almost 15 years, and like Rohit Sharma deserves to win a World Cup in his illustrious career.

"Jadeja has been very good for us, a big match-winner. He keeps doing the job, goes under the radar Playing in every format over the years. Today was a classical case as to what Jadeja is for us. Came out at the death and scored vital runs. Then picked up wickets. He knows his role and knows the expectations from him," Rohit Sharma said about Ravindra Jadeja after the match.

Jadeja is averaging 55.50 and having the second-best batting strike in the team with the bat. He is the third-highest wicket taker after Mohammed Shami (16) and Jasprit Bumrah (15), and his bowling strike is also third-best in the team.

Rightly so, Jadeja is again flying under the radar and going about his job perfectly, but he needs to be praised more for what he is bringing to the table.