The legend of Sir Jadeja adds a new feather to his one day hat!
Truth be told, September 15, 2023 was in no way, an ordinary day for the history of One day international cricket. It was just the kind of day where rampant records were being created and that too, in two completely different parts of the world.
On the one hand, while two titans of limited overs cricket in Australia and South Africa, one among them a five time world champion of the format were gruelling it out at the SuperSport Park in the land of the Protea fire, Team India were locking horns against Bangladesh in a crucial Asia cup encounter in Sri Lanka.
The distance between South Africa and Sri Lanka may measure up to countless nautical miles, but the massive boundaries just seemed to be non existent from a fan perspective given the way some brilliant performances came kept fans on the tenterhooks.
Imagine the struggle in this age being having to switch between multiple apps to keep up with live action.
However, for now, let’s deep drive into the first and major head turner that made the day incredible.
At the outset, the contribution of “Sir” Ravindra Jadeja towards India’s last group match in the Asia cup may have seemed pretty normal.
Nothing exceptional even.
For in the end, the famed all rounder, one who’s known to excel across formats, ended up with figures of 1 wicket for 53 runs from his full quota of 10 overs.
But on the whole and from the perspective of the experienced Indian cricketer, the effort was anything but short of fantastic.
In picking even that solitary wicket, as he got the wicket of Shamim Hossain for just 1, Jadeja completed his 200th one day international wicket.
This is a serious number. And this one performance earned – and rightly so- the man admired as “Sir” newfound respect.
In a career that has been integrally a part changing vagaries of Indian cricket; the Dhoni era followed by that of Kohli’s leadership and ultimately, now Rohit’s reign and not to forget, the rise in India’s Test fortunes and a flurry of injuries, the one that hasn’t quite changed is Jadeja’s penchant towards team contribution.
It’s perhaps the greatest ability of Jadeja’s that puts him into an enviable league.
When viewed from some distance, the latest in the line of Ravindra Jadeja achievements looks quite decent and maybe nothing too staggering in that, it’s taken him 182 one dayers- 175 bowling innings, to be precise- to get to 200 wickets.
But when you see into his career more closely given the number of talented all rounders that simply failed to become a mainstay for the world beating team, such as Vijay Shanker, Shivam Dube and guys like Thakur still on an in and out scene slide, you appreciate Jadeja’s effort.
READ More About Ravindra Jadeja 200 Wickets Analysis
Of course, what you also admire over other things is that in an age where cricket is eccentrically becoming a batsman-oriented sport being played out on what are often (8; not always) flat decks, 200 one day wickets isn’t a shabby feat at all.
You also then tend to think about the fact that how despite not being a premier spinner one who can create turn despite not operating on a rank turner, Jadeja’s come as far as he has.
His accomplishments and there are many besides the recently captured 200th one day wicket- 13 fifties, a run tally touching 2,600 runs with a respectable average of 31- highlight his longevity.
It’s not that Jadeja’s always in the thick of things; many a time whilst operating on docile wickets that aid batters, he’s been plonked.
But here’s a guy who given his pure love for the game, always allows himself to be in prospective game changing situations.
With the primary aim to keep the run flow tight despite not possessing a rich repertoire of turn or flight, Jadeja’s proclivity to stick to a disciplined line and length, however cliched it may seem, allows him to function as the match winner.
What follows, of course, in due course of action is a burgeoning wickets column.
It ought to be noted that the 34-year-old’s success with the white ball against sub continental sides is no fluke or sudden burst of action; over the course of his career, Jadeja’s bagged 12 wickets against Bangladesh, 10 against Pakistan while 27 versus Asia Cup hosts Sri Lanka.
Here’s a sneak peek into his consistency. Having bowled close to 1500 overs in fifty over cricket, Jadeja, who’s also a tidy fielder of his own bowling, hasn’t allowed batsmen to score off 51 overs.
That’s 306 deliveries in one of cricket’s most aggressive formats.
With no fewer than 3 years still left in him given his rich and enviable fitness standards will support him, here’s hoping that Sir Jadeja’s bowling will further school many unsuspecting pupil in the big World Cup ahead.
Carry on spinning and capturing wickets, Sir Jaddu!
