When late Shane Warne nicknamed him “Rockstar”, few would have predicted Ravindra Jadeja to become the cricketer he did. As a Test bowler alone, his success is remarkable, but it is as an all-rounder that Jadeja has achieved what very few could.
When we talk of great all-rounders, the first name that comes to mind is that of the great Sir Garfield Sobers, arguably the greatest to have ever played the game. Another obvious name is the modern-day legend, Jacques Kallis. Many of us have read and heard stories of the talent and flair of the Australian all-rounder from yesteryears, Keith Miller. The quartet of contemporary seam bowling all-rounders Ian Botham, Imran Khan, Kapil Dev and Richard Hadlee ruled the cricketing world through most of the 1980s. In more recent times, Englishmen Andrew Flintoff and Ben Stokes have been widely regarded as fantastic all-rounders in red ball cricket, and Shakib Al Hasan from Bangladesh has performed consistently well across formats over a long period of time. Jadeja’s name, however, does not come up naturally in these conversations usually.
The perception game
There can be many reasons – being a spin-bowling all-rounder is likely to be one. The perception of him being a home track bully can be another. Additionally, some other factors, mainly relating to white ball cricket, could have also contributed. His underwhelming performances in key moments during the initial phase of his career and quitting the captaincy of Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League not long after being made captain, are perceived by some as signs of weak tactical acumen and leadership.
When we look at facts, however, the reality of him being an elite Test all-rounder becomes crystal clear.
The all-rounder differential
One key metric that is typically used for ascertaining the quality of an all-rounder is the difference between their batting and bowling averages, termed as the all-rounder differential. The higher the difference, the higher the apparent quality of the all-rounder. The table below lists the top five Test all-rounders when we apply various common filters.
| Rank | 1000 runs & 100 wickets | Differential | 2000 runs & 200 wickets | Differential | 3000 runs & 300 wickets | Differential |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G. Sobers | +23.75 | J. Kallis | +22.72 | I. Khan | +14.88 |
| 2 | J. Kallis | +22.72 | I. Khan | +14.88 | R. Jadeja | +12.29 |
| 3 | I. Khan | +14.88 | R. Jadeja | +12.29 | S. Pollock | +9.20 |
| 4 | K. Miller | +14.00 | S. Pollock | +9.20 | I. Botham | +5.15 |
| 5 | R. Jadeja | +12.29 | S. Al Hasan | +6.06 | R. Hadlee | +4.87 |
You would see that Imran Khan and Ravindra Jadeja are the only two names that appear in lists for each of these three filters. By the end of his career, if he crosses the 400-wicket mark, Jadeja will only be the second cricketer besides Kapil Dev to achieve the rare double of 4000 runs and 400 wickets!
Adaptability across conditions and roles’
Of all countries he has played Tests in, his batting average is below 34 only in South Africa, where the sample size is just two games. Amongst all countries he has played Tests in, his bowling average is over 31 only in England and New Zealand, both places where spinners have a limited role, and in New Zealand, he has played just three games. These numbers easily debunk the myth of him being a mere home track bully.
While playing in Asia, he is a frontline spinner and plays as a bowling all-rounder. Outside Asia, he beautifully eases into the role of a batting all-rounder, very effectively doing the holding job while bowling. Based on his sound batting technique and a strong defensive game, he has been one of India’s batting mainstays in overseas Tests in recent years. These traits clearly demonstrate his adaptability, flexibility and utility as a cricketer, making him a captain’s dream.
Gun fielder
Any discussion around Jadeja is incomplete without talking about his fielding. Very few cricketers in history have had the ability to change the course of the game only by their fielding, and he is certainly one of them. A naturally gifted athlete, Jadeja is arguably the finest fielder India has ever produced. His stature as one of world’s top fielders has been approved even by Jonty Rhodes, who explicitly called out Jadeja for having a direct hit success rate and ground coverage capacity that sets him apart as the best fielder in world cricket. When he is close to the ball, batters think twice before going for the extra run, given his great anticipation, coupled with a rocket arm. Steve Smith, a wonderful fielder himself, has also in the past named Jadeja as his favourite fielder. His brilliance in the field has given fans several breathtaking moments over the years, making him a truly three-dimensional cricketer.
Beyond numbers
One factor which is often considered crucial while assessing a player is how he is rated by his opponents. Opposition captains, including the likes of Ben Stokes, Faf du Plessis and Steve Smith, have time and again admired Jadeja’s quality, value and versatility as a cricketer. Several former players have shared high praise for him at various occasions. While Sir Geoffrey Boycott called Jadeja his favourite present-day cricketer, Michael Vaughan dubbed him the first name on any team sheet. A master tactician himself, Ricky Ponting once analysed how Jadeja’s bowling mechanics make him an intense psychological and technical challenge to touring batters. He also commented that his batting has evolved so much that he can be just picked as a batter who can bowl a few overs.
During 2013-2023, which is considered Indian Test cricket’s golden period, Jadeja, along with Ravichandran Ashwin were vital in making India the greatest home fortress in history. During this period, India achieved a world-record 18 consecutive home Test series victories. In the same period, India lost just four of the 40 home Tests they played. Jadeja was often at the forefront of these remarkable victories, playing crucial roles in all aspects of the game. While has was relentlessly dangerous with the ball, his evolution as a reliable Test batter made the team much stronger with him regularly batting at numbers 6 or 7. There have been periods when India’s middle order has been below par, and Jadeja, along with some other lower middle order batters, has repeatedly pulled India out of the hole.
A rare species
Playing all formats in the current era, that too as an all-rounder, is a tough ask. Doing that successfully for over a decade-and-a-half is a rarity in the modern-day cricketing calendar. The fact that Jadeja belongs to a select group of active prominent international players to have debuted before 2010, is a testament to his supreme fitness, tenacity and resilience. To look at his Test career while also keeping in mind that he has had a successful international white ball and franchise cricket career, helps people understand what an absolute champion cricketer he has been, and dare I say, perhaps the last of his kind.
– Written by Ajitesh Mohan
