Saturday marked a mix of emotions for Ravindra Jadeja. The 36-year-old was named Player of the Match for his outstanding unbeaten 104 runs and figures of four for 54, a performance that led India to an emphatic innings-and-140-run victory over the West Indies in the opening Test.
However, this triumph came with a tinge of disappointment. During the ODI selection meeting held just before the match concluded, Jadeja, a key member of the Champions Trophy-winning squad earlier that year, was surprisingly omitted from India’s upcoming three-match tour of Australia.
Although the news hadn’t been made public when Jadeja spoke to the media after the game, he had undoubtedly been informed. Yet, he handled the situation with remarkable composure – a testament to his character as a humble team player and a performer who consistently delivers across conditions.
While he might have stepped away from T20Is and found himself sidelined from ODIs for the time being, Jadeja’s performance at the Narendra Modi Stadium vividly showcased his undeniable and ever-increasing impact in Test cricket.
Known primarily as a bowling all-rounder with an impressive tally of 334 Test wickets, Jadeja has recently developed into a formidable batsman. This past summer in England, during an enthralling series that India drew 2-2, he scored 516 runs, including a century and five half-centuries. His performance in Ahmedabad served as an excellent continuation of this stellar batting form.
“When you get the opportunity to bat higher up the order, your mindset naturally shifts,” Jadeja explained, having recently batted at numbers six and seven. “Before, batting at eight or nine, you might take more risks. But at five or six, there’s a clear responsibility to forge partnerships. That mental adjustment has certainly made a big difference.”
Jadeja now stands just 10 runs shy of reaching 4000 Test runs. This milestone would place him in elite company, with only one other cricketer, Kapil Dev, having achieved the remarkable feat of 5000 runs and 400 wickets in Test cricket.
When playfully reminded of this impressive statistic, Jadeja responded with a laugh, “You’re putting pressure on me now! I’ll have to start thinking about those extra 1000 runs and 60-70 wickets. But honestly, right now I’m just enjoying my game and not focusing on specific records or milestones.”
Now in his 17th year in international cricket, Jadeja is a true veteran in the current Test squad. A journalist inquired about the secret to his sustained youthful energy, suggesting factors like managing sleep or dietary changes.
“No, no, I keep things simple,” Jadeja chuckled. “Sometimes I sleep a lot, and other times, when I’m happy, I might sleep less. But as matches approach, I have a very clear understanding of what my body needs.”
It sounds straightforward, yet this simple approach defines the essence of Ravindra Jadeja’s enduring success.