High kiwi prices in India: Gurugram dietician says buy amla, jamun, guava and other affordable, seasonal fruits insteadIs the kiwi craze burning a hole in your pocket? With prices hitting almost ₹60 for a single kiwi, it’s time to look at what’s growing in our own backyard
Cockroach Janta Party Founder’s parents ‘not keen’ on him joining politics: ‘Worried because he is famous now’Abhijeet’s mother, Anita Dipke, said she wants her son to stay away from politics and focus on building a career, adding that she would not support him in this
Deep-sea mining companies face a blizzard of litigation if they forge ahead with "unlawful" plans backed by U.S. President Donald Trump to dig critical minerals from the ocean floor, the head of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) told AFP on Friday (May 22, 2026)
5 uncomplicated ChatGPT prompts to make you look like a Cannes red carpet celebrityHere are the 5 ChatGPT prompts helping users imagine themselves at the Cannes Film Festival. Published on: May 22, 2026 4:00 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link The red carpet at the 79th Cannes Film
U.S. Senate Republicans abandoned plans on Thursday (May 21, 2026) to advance major immigration enforcement legislation after furious internal disagreement over a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for U.S. President Donald Trump's allies who claim they were unfairly targeted by federal
A dream in full swing: Kunal Pradhan writes on career slams, golf and Rory McIlroyHe waited 17 years for his first Masters title. Then won twice, back-to-back, joining a club of just six golfers in the modern history of the game. A look at an incredible journey, and those that came before
U.S President Donald Trump said he had postponed the signing of an executive order on artificial intelligence with top CEOs at the White House on Thursday because he didn't like parts of the text. "Because I didn't like certain aspects of it I postponed it
How Bengal police erred, CBI fixed wrong arrest of BJP 'devotee' in CM Suvendu aide murder caseRaj Singh, 28, was arrested on May 10 by the West Bengal Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe murder of CM Suvendu's aide. Published on: May 22
Why shape-shifter Ravindra Jadeja is a rare breed of all-rounder
Why shape-shifter Ravindra Jadeja is a rare breed of all-rounder Premium
“If it's a batting-friendly pitch, I become a batter. If it's a bowler-friendly pitch, I become a bowler. It is simple.”
When Ravindra Jadeja was asked to shed light on his sustained all-round excellence during India's second Test against West Indies in New Delhi last month, a throwaway response that evoked chuckles from the press pack was all that came by. It seems to be intrinsic to his nature to not harp on his skills, preferring instead to let his runs, wickets and catches do the talking.
Even then, the light-hearted reply begs the question: how many actually have the ability with both bat and ball to switch their primary skill based on the vagaries of the 22-yard strip?
On a track conducive to run-making, he is perfectly capable of batting in the top six and peeling off a century. And on a spin-friendly surface, he is equally adept at weaving a web and producing a five-wicket haul. Add his sharp ground fielding and safe catching to the mix, along with his athleticism, endurance and explosive burst of speed, and he clearly belongs to an exotic breed even within the category of all-rounders.
The wide-ranging attributes have helped him scale exemplary numbers in Tests: 3,990 runs, 338 wickets and 49 catches in 87 matches. As and when he crosses the 4,000-run mark, he will join a select gathering of all-rounders — Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Daniel Vettori — to have scored these many runs and claimed 300-plus scalps in the classical format. With a two-Test series against South Africa beginning November 14 in Kolkata, the landmark is imminent.
Yet, as eye-catching as these figures are, it seems reductive to view the 36-year-old's career purely through the prism of numbers. For as long as he has been around — his Test career will complete 13 years in December — he has been defined by his proclivity to seamlessly slot into different boxes, like water taking the shape of its container, rather than by any conscious pursuit of personal milestones.
Top gear: Jadeja's batting has scaled up substantially since 2018, producing 2,814 runs in 52 Tests at an average of 44.66. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
“I won't lie that I don't think of personal milestones at all. It seems like it will feel good when such things happen. But once it happens, it feels the same as earlier. There is nothing new,” Jadeja explained in the press conference in October. “More than my own milestones... if I perform, does it make the team win? Are my runs and wickets having an impact on the team? Right now, my mindset has become like that. That's more important. If you score runs and take wickets and the team loses, it has no relevance.”
That Jadeja, famously dubbed ‘rockstar' in the infancy of his career by Shane Warne, has reached this sweet spot is a reflection of the maturity he has gained over time. Though his slim, supple frame continues to glide across the turf like it did in the reckless rush of youth, having not gained a visible shred of fat in all these years, he is now the oldest member of the Indian team.
In a year that has witnessed the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Tests — his old spin partner R. Ashwin also exited the stage last December — the all-rounder from Jamnagar, set to turn 37 on December 6, is remarkably enjoying his most prolific period with the bat. In eight Tests in 2025, he has scored 659 runs — more than in any other year — at an average of 82.37.
Akin to the ripening of a fruit, Jadeja took time to fuse all the ingredients as a batter at the highest level. Though the raw material was always there — three triple tons in First Class cricket by the time he turned out in Test whites — it was only towards the latter part of 2016, more than three years after making his debut, that Jadeja began to pull his weight with the willow. His batting has scaled up substantially since 2018, producing 2,814 runs in 52 Tests at an average of 44.66. All of his six Test hundreds have come in this period.
He was at his apogee in England this year. In a largely parched summer that facilitated a spree of runs, Jadeja duly filled his boots with 516 runs in 10 innings at 86. It included a streak of four successive half-centuries and was followed by a ton that contributed to India saving the Test in Manchester on the final day. A simple technique, devoid of exaggerated trigger movements, and a steely temperament were the driving forces in this purple patch.
The tour of the Old Blighty, however, wasn't rewarding with the ball for Jadeja for obvious reasons. There are limitations that the left-arm spinner has as a wicket-taker outside the subcontinent, but even when the conditions are inimical, what he always offers is control from one end as the pacers probe from the other.
Numbers are instructive in this regard. Since January 2010, among bowlers with 200-plus Test wickets, Jadeja's economy-rate of 2.59 runs per over is the lowest. In an era of rising run-rates, it is a testament to Jadeja's accuracy in hitting a good length that he is still able to tie batters down. It makes him deadly on turning tracks at home where the benefit of natural variation becomes all the more pronounced, for even the bowler doesn't always know whether the ball is going to grip and spin or skid into the pads after pitching.
Economy drive: Even in an era of rising run-rates, Jadeja's accuracy in hitting a good length has enabled him to tie batters down. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
The modus operandi has yielded majestic results, his 338 scalps in the format being the fifth-highest by an Indian behind Anil Kumble, Ashwin, Kapil and Harbhajan Singh.
In the broad spectrum of skills he brings to the table, there is also his contribution to India's white-ball teams. His last act in T20Is before retiring along with Rohit and Kohli was lifting the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean last year. In ODIs, he hasn't played since winning the Champions Trophy in March.
Strangely, despite his illustrious career, Jadeja hasn't necessarily got his due from the public at large. Even when he was left out of India's ODI squad for the recent series against Australia, although chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated that it had no bearing on the medium-term, it was no more than a footnote.
It is perhaps because, notwithstanding all the runs, wickets and catches in numerous victories for India, he isn't associated with a singular defining moment of glory that lives on in popular memory. While he won Chennai Super Kings its fifth IPL title in 2023 by hitting a six and four off the last two deliveries in a cliffhanger, he has had some ‘so near and yet so far' heartbreaks on national duty. The 2019 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand and the Lord's Test this year spring to mind.
But in the grand scheme of things, this shouldn't matter. Because whenever Jadeja hangs up his boots and reflects on whether his runs and wickets had an impact on the Indian team, the answer will be a resounding yes.
Published - November 08, 2025 12:15 am IST
cricket / Weekend Sport
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: Cricket-India confront batting blind spot after Kolkata pitch boomerangs Mitchell Starc Surpasses Wasim Akram To Become Leading Left-Arm Bowler Eng's Star Bowler Reveals Career Doubts After Leading England to Historic MCG England fast bowler Wood out of Ashes tour Ben Stokes Declares This Bowler As England’s ‘No PBKS bowler Harpreet Brar's savage response to ‘fake fan's’ selfie request goes Atkinson becomes third England bowler out of Ashes Nathan Lyon Backs This Bowler As England's Best Spinner Ahead Of Ashes The Bowler Who Humbled Australia At Gabba Injured Ahead Of Ind vs WI Tests India bowler Ravichandran Ashwin opens up on his retirement decision
The Supreme Court on Friday recalled its order barring three academics from all government projects for drafting a chapter about “corruption in the judiciary” in a now-withdrawn textbook, Live Law reported. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi
1 days ago
‘Use electricity wisely’: Govt tells citizens as peak daytime power demand breaks record amid heatwave“Due to the intense heat wave in the country, the demand for electricity is also increasing,” the ministry said. Published on: May 22, 2026 4:47 PM IST Edited by Priyanjali Narayan Share
1 days ago
Cuba Has Few Defenses If the U.S. Military Moves Against ItThe communist island once had a vaunted military, but it’s now “a shell of a shell of what it used to be.” Published on: May 22, 2026 4:27 PM IST WSJ Share via Copy link Cuba’s armed forces once fielded tens of thousands of
1 days ago
The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) on Friday has announced the introduction of two new insurance products viz LIC’s New Jeevan Sathi – Single Premium and LIC’s New Jeevan Sathi – Limited Premium as part of efforts to strengthen its savings portfolio
1 days ago
Gul Panag slams Dhruv Rathee’s ‘humiliate PM Modi abroad’ remark: ‘It diminishes the institution’Gul Panag reacted to Dhruv Rathee’s post on PM Modi and said disagreement should not insult institutions. Published on: May 22, 2026 3:06 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link
1 days ago
The income tax department has tightened its data-matching systems in recent years. With the growing use of AI-based risk assessment and system-driven verification, taxpayers are now expected to ensure that the details disclosed in their income tax return (ITR) match the information already
1 days ago
Inside fashion’s luxury home gym era: $15,000 Swarovski dumbbells, designer Pilates reformers and moreLuxury houses are moving beyond fashion, designing sculptural fitness equipment that turns the home into a stylish wellness sanctuary Published on: May 22
1 days ago
Stephen Colbert signed off the final episode of The Late Show with special guest Sir Paul McCartney, bringing the programme's historic 33-year run to an end. On Thursday night's show, Sir Paul and Colbert reminisced about past appearances at New York's Ed Sullivan Theater by The Beatles
1 days ago
Anti-low appraisal, ‘chaatu’ colleague, 'Baddie' party: How Cockroach Janta Party has opened a can of wormsNo one knew a statement by CJI using the word ‘cockroach’ while talking about the youth would lead to a social media wave that would surpass BJP's popularity. Published on: May 22
1 days ago
The holy month of Shravan, also known as Sawan, will begin on July 30, 2026, and conclude on August 28, 2026. This year, the auspicious month will last for 28 days. According to Hindu scriptures, worshipping Lord Shiv during Sawan is believed to offer spiritual benefits equal to worshipping him
1 days ago
Super El Nino: Scientists warn about potential of upcoming eventA potentially "super" El Nino is rapidly taking shape in the Pacific, however, it's true impact cannot be anticipated yet. Published on: May 22, 2026 1:25 PM IST AFP Share via Copy link Forecasters say a potentially "super" El Nino is
1 days ago
2 held from Goa for 'running cyber fraud-cash conversion racket', ₹40 lakh trail uncovered2 held from Goa for 'running cyber fraud-cash conversion racket', ₹40 lakh trail uncovered Published on: May 22, 2026 2:18 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi, With the arrest of two men from Goa
1 days ago
Actress Mouni Roy turned her flight into a mini celebration as she surprised her best friend Trishala Goculdas with a special mid-air birthday celebration. She shared glimpses from the flight on her social media account, and gave fans a sneak peek into the heartfelt moment complete with cake
1 days ago
The Delhi High Court on Friday granted interim bail for three days to activist Umar Khalid in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, Live Law reported. A division bench of Justices Prathiba Singh and Madhu Jain ordered Khalid to be released from June 1 to June 3
1 days ago
The West Bengal Police on Thursday said that a first information report has been filed against actors Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Swastika Mukherjee for making allegedly provocative remarks on social media during violence after the 2021 Assembly elections in the state, PTI reported
1 days ago
Amazon is facing online criticism after a job listing for an operations manager role in Hyderabad stated that employees may need to “stand/walk for up to 12 hours during shifts." The requirement has triggered fresh discussions around workplace pressure
1 days ago
Try these 5 home remedies that may actually help ease seasonal congestionEvery seasonal congestion doesn’t have to be treated with medicines. Here are some home remedies that could actually help clear things up. Published on: May 22, 2026 2:27 PM IST By Anukriti Srivastava Share via Copy link
1 days ago
Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold are set to miss out when Thomas Tuchel names his 26-man England squad on Friday for this summer's World Cup. Manchester United defender Harry Maguire will also be left out, with the 33-year-old saying he is "shocked and gutted" at the decision
1 days ago
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on his latest mission to assuage nervous U.S. allies in Europe about the Trump administration's intentions with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or at least put a friendlier face on whipsawing changes and uncertainty about American troop reductions.U
1 days ago
72-year-old grandmother of 5 proves there is no age limit to bodybuilding, shows super toned physique at Taiwan eventMeet Lin Sui-tzu. For this Taiwanese grandma of five, who trains six days a week, the goal isn't just to live longer — it's to live stronger. Published on: May 22
1 days ago
, the parent company of Naukri.com, said that its jumped 23% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 566 crore for the March quarter, compared with Rs 463 crore in the year-ago period. The profit after tax (PAT) is attributable to the company’s equity holders
1 days ago
Mercedes GLE and GLS Night Editions: Both Night Edition SUVs get Mercedes’ 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox and AIRMATIC suspension setup. Mercedes GLE and GLS Night Editions: Mercedes-Benz India has introduced the special Night Edition versions of the Mercedes-Benz GLE and Mercedes-Benz GLS
1 days ago
As expectations rise across higher education, institutions are increasingly being judged by measurable progress rather than reputation alone. This article explores how assessment, benchmarking, and evidence-based improvement are becoming essential to building credibility, trust
1 days ago
Bengaluru woman touched after tempo driver gifts entire bouquet instead of one flower: ‘He made my entire week’A Bengaluru woman shared how a tempo driver gave her an entire bouquet instead of just one flower. Published on: May 22, 2026 2:03 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A
1 days ago
Kuki-Zo body seeks handover of all Manipur hostages, dead or aliveA hostage crisis and escalating Naga-Kuki tensions are the latest in a series of crises in Manipur, where ethnic violence has continued since 2023 Published on: May 22, 2026 2:29 PM IST By Thomas Ngangom Share via Copy link An apex
1 days ago
This summer, cocktails are leaning into bold citrus notes, nostalgic Indian flavours, and refreshing highball-style serves that feel light, vibrant, and easy to sip through long afternoons and warm evenings. From yuzu-forward agave drinks and kokum-spiked tequila coolers to smoky whisky creations
1 days ago
Next week's India-Africa Forum Summit has been cancelled due to the Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The fourth edition of the summit, which fosters diplomatic interactions between India and countries of the African continent
1 days ago
