Twitter
Advertisement

Ravindra Jadeja: Limited talent, maximum results

One of the leading spinners during his playing days, Kumble was obviously trying to make Jadeja aware of the rough patches created around the batting crease over last two days.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

About half-an-hour before the start of Day Three on Saturday, Team India coach Anil Kumble was seen passing on few instructions in the middle to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

One of the leading spinners during his playing days, Kumble was obviously trying to make Jadeja aware of the rough patches created around the batting crease over last two days.

With match very much hanging in balance, 152 for one in reply to India's first innings total of 318, the conversation must had dwelled on to bowling in the right areas alongwith not giving any space for Kiwi batters to score freely.

As Kane Williamson and Tom Latham walked in once again to take their solid partnership ahead, the two Indian spinners — R Ashwin and Jadeja — were expected to bowl to a plan. Especially, it was more for Jadeja as he has bowled straighter of the two.

It is a different story that with his limited spinning abilities, Jadeja has become the best bowler in terms of bowling average (15.60) in the world. And there is some distance to the second best on this list, as the next is Australian legend Richie Benaud with 19.32 (counting any bowler with 50 or more wickets).

Armed with Kumble's advice, the 27-year-old left-armer created a havoc in the Kiwis camp. His quicker deliveries through the air pushed almost all the touring batsmen on the backfoot. And that was the key on this crumbling Kanpur wicket as Jadeja picked up his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests to restrict tourists to 262.

It is another thing that Jadeja has only taken 21 wickets in the 14 innings that he has bowled outside Indian subcontinent.

Jadeja's biggest strength is certainly his accuracy and ability to bowl quicker through the air. And together with his shorter run up, the speed with which he finishes overs rattles almost all the opposition sides. Even though he is not as a good turner like Ashwin, but has been become skipper Virat Kohli's first choice for his ability to get breakthroughs at crucial situations.

One fine example of how both these new-age spinners are complementing each other was the recent series against against South Africa. Forget the quality of wickets, the duo scalped 50 — Ashwin (31) and Jadeja (19) — out of the total 70 wickets that fell during the series victory.

Jadeja, in all, has taken 76 wickets in the 32 innings he has played for Team India. And majority 55 have come at home. He is going to be a big threat for the Black Caps in the remaining five innings.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement