Jadeja has improved his game so much over the years that he is the preferred spinner ahead of Ashwin for India's series against England.
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Former India batter VVS Laxman believes that Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is among the top three all-rounders in the world in Test cricket. Laxman is yet to be convinced that Jadeja is in fact the top all-rounder but certainly rates him as the third best. Jadeja has had a very impressive rise to the top which has spanned over many years. He established himself as one of the mainstays for MS Dhoni’s India squad and has reached his true potential under Virat Kohli. Jadeja has improved his game so much over the years that he is the preferred spinner ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin for India’s Test series against England. The best part is that he rarely disappoints. He always puts in an important contribution whether it be with ball or bat.
Laxman was full of praise for the all-rounder while talking about him on the ESPNCricinfo show, Rundown. He said that there has been a noticeable change in his temperament as his batting style would suggest. The former cricketer also said that there was no all-rounder better than him in Test cricket at the moment, barring England player Ben Stokes and West Indies player Jason Holder.
“I think for me, it’s Ben Stokes who is the No. 1 Test all-rounder in the world, No. 2 will be Jason Holder and Ravindra Jadeja will be No. 3 after those two. The way he batted in this Test match shows that he’s got a lot of change in his temperament, in his mindset,” Laxman said. “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,” the former batter added.
It is no secret that Jadeja is arguably one the best fielders in the world today and has been for several years now. In the Test series so far against England, fans got to see a new dimension to the all-rounder. His batting performances have been absolutely exceptional. He did not bat like someone who comes down the order. His temperament was that of a top-order batter. In the first Test at Nottingham, he scored a brilliant 56 runs off 81 deliveries while at the second Test at Lords, he scored a vital 40 in India’s first innings.
However, the recent performances have not been enough to convince Laxman that Jadeja is indeed the top all-rounder in the world. That title, as per the former cricketer, goes to Ben Stokes.
“Ben Stokes automatically walks into that England side just as a pure batsman and it’s the other way around for Jason Holder. Even if Holder doesn’t contribute with the bat, he walks into that West Indies side as a pure bowler,” he said. “With Jadeja, you find him giving that valuable contribution, with the bat, with the ball and he’s a livewire on the field, but Stokes for me is the No. 1 all-rounder in the world,” Laxman concluded.
