Following India’s victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2022 encounter on Sunday, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar was effusive in praise for..wait for it..RAVINDRA JADEJA!
In the chase of 148, India had found themselves reeling after the loss of early wickets before Ravindra Jadeja made a significant contribution with the bat: Jadeja was promoted to number 4 to counter Pakistan’s spinners (as Rishabh Pant was dropped from the eleven).
Jadeja was involved in two crucial partnerships: a 36-run stand in 31 balls with Suryakumar Yadav; then a 52-run partnership in 29 balls with Hardik Pandya.
WOW: Sanjay Manjrekar has words of high praise for Ravindra Jadeja
Sanjay Manjrekar reckoned that Jadeja has now evolved into a batting all-rounder in limited-overs cricket, his batting improvement augurs well for a promotion in the batting order, he felt.
“There was long-term clue or a thought that could come in, is that now slowly in white ball cricket, Jadeja could now be looked at as a batting all-rounder,” Manjrekar was quoted as saying by Sports18.
“He bowled two overs, but if he’s going to take important positions in the batting order and make the kind of contribution that he did against Pakistan then, wow! He fits in perfectly.”
Manjrekar saw the logic in promoting Jadeja to number 4, ahead of Suryakumar Yadav.
“Very good move [to promote Jadeja] and I loved it. And I don’t think it was a gamble. It wasn’t a wild card because Pakistan were bowling two spinners, one leg spinner and a left-arm spinner, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab.”
We are seeing slowly a transition of Jadeja: Manjrekar
Ravindra Jadeja finished with 35 runs off 29 balls, holding India’s innings together; in his stay in the middle, Jadeja cracked 2 fours and 2 sixes, including one to the in-form Naseem Shah that helped in bringing down the required rate.
“You’ve got Hardik Pandya as the extra bowler, then Jadeja can be your push-in if one of the seamers don’t bowl well. So going up the order and him also delivering are great signs for India where there we are seeing slowly a transition of Jadeja becoming more of a batting all-rounder in white ball cricket,” Manjrekar added.
— Guess Karo (@KuchNahiUkhada) August 28, 2022
While Jadeja’s stand with SKY kept India in the game after losing the top three, his partnership with Hardik Pandya pushed the game in India’s favour, so much that only 7 runs were required in the last over.
Jadeja got out on the first ball of the last over, off Mohammad Nawaz, but Hardik ensured India went over the line.
Speaking after the win, Jadeja said: “We wanted to play till the end, they have a very good bowling attack, their fast bowlers don’t give anything away. I could have finished the game but Hardik played superbly. He (Pandya) came out, he was very clear in his head and said he was going to play his shots, and I am happy that he stayed till the end.”
India take on Hong Kong on Wednesday in Dubai where they will look to seal their Super 4 spot.
