Ravindra Jadeja will join the list of veterans, Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar if he scores ten runs or more in the deciding ODI in Melbourne. As he will go past nine, Jadeja would become the third Indian player to have completed a double of 2000 runs, and 150 wickets in ODIs. Though he will be the 26th overall player to achieve such a feat, Jadeja will be India’s modern-day best all-rounder with such numbers to his name.
India eyes series win in Australia
India had already clinched the Tests (2-1), and now they would aim to bag the ODIs as well. With less time remaining in the 2019 World Cup, both India and Australia would want to gain momentum. As Australia had won the first ODI at the SCG, the Indians returned in style to level the series in Adelaide.
Courtesy a 39th ODI ton from Virat Kohli, and an unbeaten 55 off Dhoni’s bat; India won the game with six wickets in hand. On Friday (January 18th), the final of the three-match ODI series will be played at the MCG.
‘Super-man Jadeja’makes a stylish comeback
Ravindra Jadeja returned to India’s ODI squad last September during the Asia Cup in the UAE. As Hardik Pandya suffered an injury during the game against Pakistan, Jadeja got named as his replacement. Straightaway, the left-arm spinner made an impact; picking up four wickets in the match against Afghanistan. Later, he contributed towards India’s famous win against Bangladesh in the finale.
In the following series against the Windies, he slammed his maiden Test hundred as well. Jump to the Australia tour, Jadeja played a handy role with both bat and ball in the last two Tests at the MCG and SCG, respectively. Though he has been marginally okayish in the two ODIs so far; the India all-rounder would look to leave an impact in the deciding ODI in Melbourne.
Grinding into the numbers, both Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar have scored 3738 and 18,426 runs, respectively in the ODIs; while bowling, they have taken 253 and 154 wickets, respectively. Meanwhile, Jadeja has 1990 runs and 171 wickets.