Superstar all-rounder Yuvraj Singh was India’s main in the 2011 World Cup triumph at home. The elegant left-hander made significant contributions with both bat and ball throughout the tournament, helping India to their second ODI World Cup title.
With the bat, Yuvraj scored 362 runs in the tournament at an unbelievable average of 90 with four fifties and one century. His most memorable knock with the bat in the 2011 World Cup came against Australia under a high pressure run-chase in the quarter-final.
With the ball, the left-arm orthodox spinner snapped up 15 wickets at an average of 25. His wickets included those of Michael Clarke, Andre Russell, Kevin O’Brien, Younis Khan, Brad Haddin, and Kumar Sangakkara.
Yuvraj added the balance to the Indian side that MS Dhoni so yeard for in his team. Without Yuvraj, undoubtedly, India wouldn’t have been able to secure the World Cup trophy in 2011.
In World Cup 2023, Ravindra Jadeja could play the role of Yuvraj Singh
Much like the 2011 World Cup side, the current Indian team under Rohit Sharma has some world-class batters at the top, a hard-hitting finisher down the order, a potent lead bowler up the captain’s arsenal, and a left-handed spinning all-rounder in the side.
As Yuvraj Singh lent great balance to MS Dhoni’s team, it is Ravindra Jadeja who offers similar balance to Rohit’s side, and the Gujarat all-rounder is a key member of the team. Jadeja will have a crucial role to play in the side in the upcoming World Cup 2023.
But, it seems that India perhaps need to tinker with some of his role as a batsman.
Over the years, it has often been perceived that fans tend to underrate Ravindra Jadeja as a batsman. Not too long ago, Jadeja proved his worth when he cracked a 6 and 4 in the IPL 2023 final when 10 runs were needed off the last two balls against Gujarat Titans.
Jadeja’s upward arc was forged in that 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Manchester when he cracked 77 off 59. The mistake the captains and coaches did after that knock was to keep Jadeja batting at lower down the order.
Jadeja the batsman has gone underrated and underutilized in white-ball cricket in the past three-four years when he’s been at his peak as a cricketer.
Make Ravindra Jadeja bat in top 4 or top 5
What we strongly feel is that Ravindra Jadeja should be moved up the order and Hardik Pandya should be pushed down a bit. Not only that, there could also be an argument made to bat Ravindra Jadeja at number 4. What that would do – and something which all top teams do in their line-up and India don’t, but should do – is to have a left-hander in the top 4.
Look at the teams who are strong contenders to win the World Cup 2023: England, Australia, and Pakistan – all have at least one left-hander in the top 4.
India, though we are still not sure who will bat at number 4 come October 8, don’t have a left-hander in the top 6 – if, say, Iyer is at 4, KL Rahul at 5 and Hardik at 6.
Having a left-hander batting at number 4/5 – as India did with Yuvraj Singh in the 2011 World Cup – would help the side immensely in rotating the strike during the middle-overs and keeping the opposition from modifying their plans. It would not allow the opposition to tie the Indian right-handers down with left-arm finger spinners and leg-spinners, something teams like New Zealand and Australia have done against India in recent white-ball tournaments.
Team India and its fans would be hoping that Ravindra Jadeja performs in the World Cup 2023 up to the levels of Yuvraj Singh from the 2011 World Cup.
