Ravindra Jadeja's shift from a defensive container to an aggressive wicket-taking force is the key evolution behind his stellar Test cricket longevity, according to his former long-time national teammate Cheteshwar Pujara.
Speaking on JioStar's 'Follow The Blues', Pujara explained that Jadeja previously focused strictly on minimizing run leaks when pitches lacked natural assistance but the latter now attacks the stumps constantly, looking to prize out a wicket with every single delivery.
Pujara believes this mental shift has allowed Jadeja to use variations and crease angles much more dynamically.
The veteran spin-bowling all-rounder is all set to make a highly anticipated return to the Indian Test squad for Sri Lanka tour after being rested for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June.
"Earlier, when Ravindra Jadeja used to bowl, his mindset was not to give away too many runs, especially in red-ball cricket. If there was a little help in the wicket, then he would try to take wickets. But if the wicket was not conducive to bowlers, his focus was on restricting the runs. But now, he has understood his own strengths and is bowling accordingly," Pujara said.
"In every game, he is trying to land the ball in the line of the stumps and get the batter out. Earlier, his mindset was a little more defensive, but now he is delivering every ball with the purpose of taking a wicket. So, you think a little more about your game. You use the crease a little better, try to go wider, and adjust your length according to the batter. That mental shift is very important for the game," he added.
With Ravindra Jadeja sitting on 348 Test wickets, all eyes will be on whether this proactive tactical change will help him breach the coveted 400-wicket milestone in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
The upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka is a crucial assignment for India as Shubman Gill’s men aim to climb from fifth position in the WTC standings.
The series will get underway on August 15 in Galle, followed by the second Test in Colombo from August 23. Ahead of the official matches, India will play a three-day warm-up game starting August 7 against a local Sri Lankan XI to adjust to local conditions.
