IS RAVINDRA JADEJA THE ACTUAL 3D PLAYER OF INDIA?

There was a time when former India cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar had referred to Jadeja as a bits-and-pieces player. And while that might have been partially true at one point of time in his career...

- RENIN WELBIN

The 3D player theory turned into a joke in Indian cricket after Ambati Rayudu put out a legendary 3D glasses tweet after being snubbed for the 2019 ODI World Cup. The selectors had picked Vijay Shankar, who could bat a bit and bowl a bit ahead of pure batter Rayudu in the squad for the World Cup. Then, BCCI chairman of selectors, MSK Prasad, described Shankar as a three-dimensional player. The all-rounder, however, was out of the World Cup very early in the tournament due to an injury. Shankar was definitely not a 3D player, but does Team India have one in the current squad? With his versatile skills, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja can definitely lay claim to being the team’s 3D player. His bowling prowess was on show in India’s opening World Cup 2023 clash against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, October 8. Jadeja claimed 3/28 in 10 overs, two of which were maidens; the Aussies were held to 199. The left-arm spinner dismissed Steve Smith with a beauty and added the scalps of Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey to firmly put Australia on the back foot. But for a special innings from KL Rahul, Jadeja would have been the Player of the Match against Australia.

INDIA’S GO-TO MAN

There was a time when former India cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar had referred to Jadeja as a bits-and-pieces player. And while that might have been partially true at one point of time in his career, that is definitely not the case anymore. On the contrary, Jadeja has become India’s go-to man, especially in Tests and ODIs. He has broken key partnerships with the bat, which can be termed as game-changing contributions.