Image Credit- AFP
While Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav’s talents
cannot be replaced, Hardik Pandya fills a unique role for India as a
seam-bowling all-rounder who is capable of holding onto his position for
batting alone in many other teams. Pandya was ill and receiving care.
Ravindra Jadeja’s job description may be filled by
others, but not many of them are performing it as well as he does. Jadeja may
not immediately come to mind as a banker given his flamboyance, but for India,
that is exactly what he is.
Jadeja finally had the opportunity to enjoy some of
the limelight in the all-arounder’s absence, who was likely to be missed more.
He continued to bowl all 10 overs, and for good reason—he took two wickets and
allowed only 38 runs. Jadeja has taken seven wickets in four World Cup games
with a strike rate that is higher than in recent memory, but that is not what
has made him the asset he is.
Jadeja returned to the ODIs in July 2022. He has since
bowled 100 or more overs for and against the teams competing in this World Cup,
finishing third in terms of economy. Only Keshav Maharaj and Shakib Al Hasan
have performed better than Jadeja’s 4.52 over average. Jadeja has allowed India
eight overs per bowling innings during this time; only Bumrah and Mohammed
Shami have bowled more each game.
In this stage of his ODI career, Jadeja has
essentially been on par with any specialist bowler in terms of performance. His
batting is a major second skill, albeit one that is arguably underutilised. The
fielding is a major benefit.
Jadeja has turned his attention away from the wickets
at a time when it is all anybody is talking about and onto his control instead.
He is merely attempting to spin the ball as hard as he can while maintaining
his natural ability to end on the stumps and his control.
Pune was the same. While Bangladesh was hoping to
attack one or two of the bowlers in Hardik’s absence, Jadeja and Kuldeep
dragged Bangladesh back on a wicket that had little for the spinners and no
large boundaries to play with.
This World Cup, Najmul Hossain Shanto wasn’t the only
left-handed hitter Jadeja successfully trapped lbw. In the first game, he
similarly treated Alex Carey. It has been a deadly delivery from Jadeja, bowled
around the wicket, into the pitch, on middle and leg, and straightening just
enough to beat the bat but not miss the stumps.
Who better than Steven Smith to speak to the calibre
of Jadeja for right-handed batters? That method of dismissal, bowling him top
of off without allowing him to move forward and opening up his stance with the
drift, was straight out of a Test match. He’s been frequently hitting the
outside of the bat, so moving forward is not the prayer you’re looking for. He
can no longer be used as a left-arm seam bowler who angles the ball in.
After dealing with one difficult customer, the cashier
resumed smilingly issuing money notes. The bank clerk who went to war was how
people referred to the 1970s’ unlikely Ashes hero, David Steele, who had grey
hair and spectacles. Gladiator Jadeja is the one who visits the bank.