In the first ODI at Vadodara, Jadeja proved the most economical bowler for India. Not only he checked Australians in the middle of the innings, but also claimed the prized wicket of Ponting.
Those who saw Ravindra Jadeja hitting sixes in the first edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) last year may be a tad disappointed with his batting in one-day internationals (ODIs), but the youngster has revelled in the role of the second spin bowler in Indian limited overs' side. The Jamnagar boy's bowling in the ongoing bilateral series against Australia has warmed the hearts of the cricket fans and earned him the confidence of Dhoni.
In the first ODI at Vadodara, Jadeja proved the most economical bowler for India. Not only he checked Australians in the middle of the innings, but also claimed the prized wicket of Ponting.
He backed the Vadodara performance by another impressive display of spin bowling in Nagpur. He was very effective in the middle overs and ended up with 3 wickets for only 35 runs, no mean feat in a high-scoring match. His victims were all dangerous batsmen - Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh and Mike Hussey. The ball which got Hussey was a beauty and, for all practical purposes, deflated the spirited Aussie chase. The well-set Aussie had completed his half-century and was leading a rearguard action when a Jadeja delivery beat his defensive bat and shattered the stumps.
Those who watched the early progress of the left-arm spinner are not surprised by his bowling achievements.
In fact, he was one of the leading wicket-takers in the last Ranji season (2008-09) when he captured more than 40 wickets. "Ravindra has made it to national team because of his bowling, not batting. Last year, he was our top wicket-taker," said Jaydev Shah, captain of Saurashtra Ranji team.
Shah also observed that in the previous outings, Jadeja rarely got a chance to justify his bowling talent. "With part-time bowlers like Yuvraj Singh and Virendra Sehwag doing well, Jadeja's share of overs was usually cut down. But, now he is getting more opportunities. He has a strong temperament and this is reflected in his bowling also," said Shah, while referring to variations with which Jadeja bowled.
Echoing Shah's views, Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) president Bharat Shah said Jadeja as a bowler has been vastly under-estimated. "Dhoni must have seen something in Jadeja's bowling. I believe he is more effective on flat wickets and this makes him vital for matches being played on Indian wickets. The captain's faith will boost Jadeja's confidence and solve India's problem for bowling in the middle overs," said Bharat Shah, while hailing Jadeja as a promising all-rounder.
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