Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has boldly claimed that Ravindra Jadeja doesn’t get the appreciation he truly deserves from the media. Ashwin even acknowledged that Jadeja is a more naturally gifted cricketer than he is after the left-arm spinner’s heroics in Nagpur.
Ravindra Jadeja consistently delivers when India needs him most with both the bat and ball, whether or not the pitch favors him away or at home. Apart from his handy batting at the lower order, the Indian all-rounder’s ability to break partnerships and maintain pressure made him one of the most dependable match-winners for India, especially in Test and ODI cricket.
Ravichandran Ashwin hails Ravindra Jadeja as ‘Jackpot Jango’ after 1st ODI win
Notably, Jadeja retired from T20I cricket along with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and Caribbean last year in June. Well, on February 6, Jadeja once again proved why he’s a crucial asset for India in the first ODI against England.
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The left-arm spinner spun magic and bagged three vital wickets that left the English batting lineup in disarray at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur. Jadeja’s brilliant spell has proved that he is a master at choking opposition batters during the middle overs, as he shifted the momentum in favor of the Men in Blue, and they eventually won the game by four wickets against England.
After the Indian cricket team won the ODI in Nagpur, Ravichandran Ashwin shared how the media often overlooks Ravindra Jadeja when it comes to praising and appreciating his contributions to India’s victories. Ashwin also called Jadeja a “Jackpot Jango” who excels in the field, with the ball, and under pressure with the bat.
Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “Our media fails to appreciate when a player does well. Whenever we lose, everyone becomes a villain. He dismissed Joe Root (in the 1st IND vs ENG ODI). Jadeja always goes under the radar. He is a “Jackpot Jango.”. He is +10 in the field, also bowls well, and bats in pressure situations as well. We don’t give Jadeja enough credit.”
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Jadeja is more gifted than me: Ashwin
Hailing Jadeja’s natural athleticism, Ashwin said that he’s more gifted than he ever could be. He also noted that Jadeja’s fitness is a major asset for him and India, as it allows the all-rounder to cover the entire field with ease, even at the age of 36 years.
The former Indian all-rounder added, “Jadeja is way more gifted than I ever can. He is a born athlete. His major advantages lie in his physical fitness. He is naturally fit. Even at this age, he can cover the entire area from long on to deep square leg while standing at mid-wicket. I wouldn’t be surprised. And I will be more than happy for him.”
Notably, Ashwin is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in international cricket with 765 wickets after Anil Kumble, who holds the record with 953 wickets. On the other hand, Jadeja is not far behind, as he is the fifth-highest wicket-taker for India in international cricket with 600 wickets to his name. He is only behind Kapil Dev (707 wickets) and Harbhajan Singh (697 wickets)
