Cricket
Ravindra Jadeja played a fabulous 8-ball 22-run cameo against KKR to win the game for CSK when they needed 26 runs off the last two overs.
Updated : Sep 27, 2021, 12:03 AM IST
You want quiet over, call him. You want a breakthrough, call him. Deepak Chahar wanted 11 of him on the field because of his bullet arms and velcro hands. You want someone to score quick runs at the death and finish off the games, call him. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has carved out a niche for himself becoming one of the best all-rounders in the game.
Jadeja's spell was one of the big reasons during CSK's last game against RCB why they were able to restrict them to just 156 in Sharjah and once again on Sunday, he bowled a miserly spell on a good surface at Abu Dhabi, giving away just 21 runs in his four overs and took the important wicket of Rahul Tripathi.
For the most part of CSK's batting innings, it looked like he wouldn't be needed as the openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis had stitched a 74-run partnership and they were running through the chase but a sudden middle-order collapse meant Jadeja was in the thick of things.
Two quiet overs from Varun Chakravarthy and losing three wickets in quick succession led to CSK needing 26 runs off the last two overs. Jadeja and Sam Curran had to get at least two boundaries off the over. Prasidh Krishna bowled two good balls and conceded just two runs and the equation came down to 24 needed off 10.
While it looked like it was getting tricky for them Jadeja said when he is there, there was nothing to worry about for the men in yellow. He whacked two sixes off the next two balls and two fours off the full tosses on the last two deliveries to bring the equation to 4 needed off the last over.
Even though Sunil Narine made it interesting with wickets of both Curran and Jadeja, CSK got over the line on the last ball to notch up their eighth win of the tournament.
Former India batter Virender Sehwag, experts and fans lauded Jadeja's all-round efforts. Here are some of the reactions:
What a magnificent victory for Chennai. Ravindra Jadeja top class with bat and ball and Chennai are top of the table. After the situation last year, what a comeback. Just stand up and applaud #WhistlePodu #CSKvsKKR pic.twitter.com/IVK3KtHjVE
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 26, 2021
Guess that’s why he’s called Sir Jadeja. Unbelievable hitting in a clutch moment! Holy! To play like this under pressure - brilliant. #CSKvKKR
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) September 26, 2021
What a player this Jadeja is! 4 overs for 21 and a wicket. And a game changing innings. There is little that he cannot do!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 26, 2021
Legend
— Mohammed Shinadh (@Shinadh1) September 26, 2021
True Warrior#jaddu #jadeja pic.twitter.com/m9UhR74XLR
Jaddduuuuuuu... You are a Champion. Thank you for this #CSKvKKR #CSK #Jadeja #KKR #WhistlePodu #Yellove @ChennaiIPL pic.twitter.com/SZ4oMZt4j5
— Parvati (@paro_nair) September 26, 2021
Forget The Victory, This Man An Absolute Game Changer #CSKvsKKR
— (@Beast_8055) September 26, 2021
Sir #Jadeja : The Supremacy pic.twitter.com/Tuz9MAsE4v
#CSKvsKKR
— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) September 26, 2021
Thank you Sir Jadeja pic.twitter.com/sj93BY3hx2
1-21 (4) and 22 (8). Sir Jadeja Supremacy! pic.twitter.com/sGwMsnlJ9C
— Manya (@CSKian716) September 26, 2021