Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was full of praise for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for his improved batting prowess in the recent few years.
Sanjay Manjrekar: Ravindra Jadeja’s Batting Skyrocketed After 2015
But the all-rounder’s consistent show has forced the commentator Sanjay Manjrekar to rethink and compliment him every now and then. On Sunday in the ongoing Boxing Day 2nd Test on the second day between India and Australia, Ravindra Jadeja stood rock solid with his captain Ajinkya Rahane and stitched a very crucial unbroken 104-run partnership for the 6th wicket to take his team’s lead to 82.
Now, Sanjay Manjrekar has heaped rich praises on the southpaw for his improved show with the bat in the recent few years. His batting average in Tests has improved considerably since the end of 2015. His average increased from 37.5 in 2016 to the forties in 2017 and 2018 before reaching 62.86 in 2019. This year, the 32-year-old is already possessing a staggering average of 65.00.
Considering the aforementioned statistics, Sanjay Manjrekar has said that Ravindra Jadeja always had the batting abilities and techniques but those have just skyrocketed in recent years. Sanjay Manjrekar also pointed out that the left-handed all-rounder did not throw his wicket to avoid facing the Australian pacers with the new ball.
“Things changed after 2015 with Ravindra Jadeja — the batsman. It was also the time when Ashwin was batting before him, Ashwin had four Test hundreds and Jadeja had nothing. Jadeja was competing with Ashwin as the spinner in side. Ashwin’s batting dropped, Jadeja’s batting sort of skyrocketed. This guy always had a great first-class record and finally when he got his number, he felt ‘Wow, let me make most of it'”
Ravindra Jadeja averages around 35 with the bat with 1 ton and 14 fifties. He is batting on 40 at end of second day’s play in the second Test with skipper Ajinkya Rahane who scored his 12th Test century.
Sanjay Manjrekar: Ravindra Jadeja’s Batting Changed In Last 4 Years As He Is Showing Temperament Against Quality Pace And Spin Attack
Ravichandran Ashwin on the other hand averaged 43.71 in 2016 but his average has been less than 21 in each year since 2017. He averaged only 12 with the bat in 2019. In the last few Test series against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia, his average dipped down to single-digit figures. His average has been less than 25 since the series in 2017 against Sri Lanka at home.
“The early part he was playing as Test all-rounder of sort, his bowling was fine but his batting for couple of years had become a bit of harakiri. Something changed in the last 4 years. He is getting behind the ball, leaving balls, even today against a quality bowling attack, he did not throw is wicket to avoid the fast bowlers before the second new ball was taken. He hung in there, so temperamentally, the technique has always been there, batting ability has always been there,” Sanjay Manjrekar told on Sony Networks.
Overall, Ravindra Jadeja averages around 35 with the bat and 25 with the ball in Test cricket. He averaged 70.67 against South Africa and 72 against Bangladesh in 2019 which were played in India before the New Zealand and Australia series happened. He though has played sporadically unlike Ravichandran Ashwin who is a regular.