The 80s was the era of fast bowlers and aggressive all-rounders like Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Richard Hadley and Ian Botham. They were not just stars, they were the face of that decade. Imran and Kapil were the symbols of their country’s growing strength in the sport.
Ravindra Jadeja may not reach the level of those legends but he’s one of the best all-rounders in the game today. It’s not just about the numbers but also his exciting playing style and engaging personality. Early on he was seen as a left-arm spinner who could hit some runs down the order. Since then he’s grown into a reliable batsman and bowler.
In the 48 Test matches since January 2018, Jadeja has scored 2521 runs at 42 and taken 161 wickets at 26.16. During this period his numbers are better than Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh (30.75 and 29.62) and Ben Stokes of England (34.85 and 30.61). When you compare batting and bowling averages Jadeja is right up there.
Only 11 players have scored 3000 runs and taken 300 wickets. Some players have achieved this because they had a long career, Jadeja’s contribution has been technically sound. Jadeja’s batting and bowling average difference is 12.03, second only to Imran Khan (14.88). Botham (5.14), Kapil Dev (1.83) and Hadley (4.86) are all behind him.
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Jadeja’s numbers are better than Kapil Dev’s but Kapil Dev’s impact was bigger. A fast-bowling all-rounder is always wanted in India but a spin all-rounder can be just as valuable. Jadeja has taken most of his wickets in India (238 out of 326) but he’s also played well in places like Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka. He’s made his mark in England too.
