Lord’s 2014, and England had given India a green top. Despite Ajinkya Rahane’s fine first innings ton, India were far from safe going into the second innings. And when MS Dhoni was dismissed, leaving Murali Vijay stranded, hopes of an Indian win seemed remote. In walked Ravindra Jadeja. Two hours later came the first-ever sword dance. A Ravindra Jadeja 50, and the match had been set up. Thanks to Ishant Sharma’s super bowling effort, India won a famous victory, which to an extent had also been set up by Jadeja.
Back home, he has always been superb. But overseas as well, his impact has been undeniable. Think of Melbourne 2020. While we all celebrate Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership and century, Jadeja’s half-century was as important. Few can forget the Steve Smith run-out, and time and again, Jadeja has made a telling impact for India.
Let’s also state that none of us have anything against Washington Sundar. I am sure he will play many more Test matches for India, but that doesn’t mean the Jadeja selection is a bad one. He adds batting depth and will also hold one end up as and when needed. Now that India have won the toss and are bowling, more so. An out-and-out team man, few could ever debate a Jadeja selection.
One also feels for R Ashwin. He did nothing wrong in Adelaide, and had Mohammed Siraj taken the Travis Head catch, things could have been different for India. Having said that, however, the fragility in the batting made the Jadeja/Sundar selection inevitable. India need extra runs and both of them seem more capable in these conditions.
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If we take a look at some of India’s best wins in recent times, Jadeja’s imprint on them is undeniable. Be it the Melbourne triumph in 2020, when he stitched a very important partnership with Rahane, or his performances in England, Jadeja has been a key ingredient in India’s success. A much-improved batter than he was some years ago, Jadeja is a genuine all-rounder in every sense. Not just a bowler who can also bat, but rather one who is equally effective with bat and ball. And that’s where he is invaluable for India. Be it this match or going ahead in the series, Jadeja’s presence will be key for India.
What explains his improvement as a batter? And how did he work it all out in the mind? Jadeja had explained this sometime back. “To play well in Test cricket was an ambition I had for a long time, and I am glad I have been able to do so,” he said. “I used to tell myself that if can score triple hundreds in domestic cricket, there is no reason why I can’t score runs at the international level. Scoring important runs for India gives you real joy and is something I am proud of.”
Jadeja may not have too much to do with the ball on day 1, with rain around and the wicket not doing too much for him. But if Jasprit Bumrah needs a breather and India need to play the waiting game for a while, his hand will be up. As a left-hand batting option, he will also ensure that Australia’s bowlers don’t settle into a line and length. That can come in really handy in a high-intensity Test series. In every sense, it is a good selection and one that could have been made earlier as well.