Ravindra Jadeja notched up his third Test hundred on Saturday as he tired out the English bowling attack in the ongoing Edgbaston Test. This knock of 104 runs – his first Test ton outside India, and second in the year 2022 – propelled India’s total to 375 which was then usurped over 400 by skipper Jasprit Bumrah’s blitz of 31* off 16 balls.
This century, batting at number 7, further vindicated India’s decision to play him over veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin; in the first four Tests of this Pataudi series, Jadeja was preferred over Ashwin and had made crucial contributions to India’s series lead.
With the bat, Jadeja has been in staggering form. In fact, he and Rishabh Pant are the only two Indian batters who have scored a century – both twice – in the year 2022.
This stat proves Ravindra Jadeja is the best all-rounder
While many fans consider Ravindra Jadeja as the best all-rounder currently – he’s the number 1 ICC ranked Test all-rounder as well – some point out other names such as England’s Ben Stokes, West Indies’ Jason Holder and Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan.
Now, this stat by Australian journalist Nic Savage highlights that Jadeja is a proper all-rounder: his batting average since July 2017 is better then Australian opener David Warner and his bowling average in this period is better than Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc!
Test batting average since July 2017:
Ravindra Jadeja – 46.74
David Warner – 45.76
Test bowling average since July 2017:
Ravindra Jadeja – 26.31
Mitchell Starc – 26.98
Here, check out the tweet:
Test batting average since July 2017:
Ravindra Jadeja – 46.74
David Warner – 45.76Test bowling average since July 2017:
Ravindra Jadeja – 26.31
Mitchell Starc – 26.98#ENGvIND— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) July 2, 2022
Comparing Jadeja with the likes of Stokes and Holder the Indian all-rounder comes on top: since the start of 2018, Jadeja’s batting average of 47 is the best in the world for any player to have also taken 50 Test wickets in this period; The next best, Stokes’s batting average is 36 while Holder’s 32.
Meanwhile, India have gained an upper hand on the game by Stumps on Day 2 in Edgbaston. Having piled up 416 in their first innings, the seamers came out all guns blazing, and led by skipper Bumrah’s three-for India have already knocked over 5 England batters for only 84 runs.
