Rahul Dravid, the Indian coach, has praised Ravindra Jadeja’s exceptional performance in the ongoing tournament. While Dravid acknowledges the importance of data, he believes that situational impact should be considered alongside statistics. Jadeja has scored 81 runs in three innings and taken nine wickets in 55.3 overs, with an economy rate of 3.78. Although these figures are solid, they are not as exceptional as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s 400-plus runs or the 29 combined wickets of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. Dravid commended Jadeja’s contribution, stating, “It’s been exceptional… he has been exceptional in this tournament.”
Dravid also highlighted the overshadowed performances of Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav due to the outstanding performances of the seamers. Jadeja’s timely knocks, such as an unbeaten 39 against New Zealand and a crucial 35 against Sri Lanka, have made him India’s impact player in this campaign. Dravid praised Jadeja’s ability to perform in any given situation and his control over the game.
The coach also noted that Jadeja has made adjustments to his bowling, landing the ball on the seam to gain more purchase and consistently hitting the right areas. Dravid believes that Jadeja’s performance and contributions are on par with any other player in the tournament. The coach emphasized the positive impact Jadeja has had on the team and the valuable insights he brings to the bowlers’ meetings.
Dravid expressed his admiration for Jadeja’s clarity of purpose and confidence in his abilities. He commended Jadeja’s critical innings in the top three positions, acknowledging the uncertainty that comes with batting lower down the order. In addition to his batting, Dravid praised Jadeja’s incredible fielding skills, particularly his catches at point.
Overall, Dravid believes that Jadeja has been a fantastic all-around package for the Indian team, making significant contributions with both bat and ball. The coach feels that Jadeja’s performance may have gone under the radar but deserves recognition for his exceptional tournament.
