Arguably, Ravindra Jadeja is the best number 7 batter in Test cricket at the moment. Since 2018, he averages over 50 in tests. He has grown to become one of the most dependable batsmen in the Indian team and one of the most formidable all rounders in the world. According to VVS Laxman, one thing that is separating Jadeja from rest of the players is his temperament.
The Indian team is backing the combination of four fast bowlers in England. Hence, they had to exclude their premier spinner R Ashwin. They couldn’t have afforded to lose Ravi Jadeja in place of Ashwin as Jadeja has been a more dependable batsman.
Ravindra Jadeja has justified his place as he has made two valuable contributions with the bat so far in the series. In the first test at Trent Bridge, Jadeja scored a crucial fifty. It came at a time when India was on the verge of a collapse. In the second test, he scored a valuable 40 when India lost crucial wickets of Rahul and Rahane in quick succession. But he is yet to contribute with the ball as he hasn’t taken wickets so far in the series.
VVS Laxman rates Ravindra Jadeja as world’s third-best Test all-rounder
The former India batter VVS Laxman has asserted that Jadeja stands at number three in the list of top all-rounders after Ben Stokes and Jason Holder. Laxman feels that the all-rounder has brought certain changes in his temperament and mindset as he ranked Jadeja as the number three all-rounder of the world. Jadeja is currently the number 2 all-rounder in Tests according to ICC Rankings.
Laxman pointed that Jadeja is showing a lot of promise to perform in challenging conditions and is displaying a lot more temperament. However, he said that for the best all-rounder he needs to walk away in the team right away and as of now that’s not the case with Jadeja.
“I think he is showing and displaying a lot more temperament to be successful in trying conditions against quality fast bowlers. But for me, a great all-rounder is one who straightaway walks into the Playing XI, either as a batsman or a bowler. Now, Jadeja doesn’t do that.”
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