Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Ravindra Jadeja could be a long-term option for Team India at the top-of-the-order in white-ball cricket. He also lauded the team’s move to promote him during the game against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2022.
One of the main reasons behind India’s win against Pakistan was all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The southpaw played a sensational knock of 35 runs and bailed India out of trouble from the pressure situation.
Promoted up the order, Jadeja held onto one end and slowly ticked the scorecard along with taking calculated risks. He stitched a staggering 52 runs partnership with Hardik Pandya (33*) to help his side defeat the arch-rivals.
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Jadeja’s role was crucial for India as he negotiated spinners well and pulled his side back into the game when it seemed that they would falter. His innings with the bat was lauded by many and even suggested that he could be a long-term option for India in white-ball cricket top of the order.
Speaking on SPORTS18’s daily sports news show SPORTS OVER THE TOP, Sanjay Manjrekar said that he liked India’s move to promote Jadeja up the top order against Pakistan as he neutralized the spinners and ruined Pakistan’s trick.
“Yes. Very good move and I loved it. And I don't think it was a gamble. It wasn't a wild card because Pakistan were bowling two spinners, one leg spinner and a left-arm spinner, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab. So, they were going to bowl for a while and that's what Babar did.
“It was like they bowed one over spell or two over spell. A left-hander coming in would just make things a little difficult. The ball also, pitch looked green, but the ball was turning, so the spinners were going to make an impact. So that was pretty good,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.
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Manjrekar is pleased to see Jadeja's transformation into a batting all-rounder in white-ball cricket, saying these are "great signs" for India.
"And also, there was another long-term clue or a thought that could come in, is that now slowly in white ball cricket, Jadeja could now be looked at as a batting all-rounder. He bowled 2 overs, but if he's going to take important positions in the batting order and make the kind of contribution that he did against Pakistan then Wow!
“He fits in perfectly. So, you've got Hardik Pandya as the extra bowler, then Jadeja can be your push-in if one of the seamers don't bowl well. So going up the order and him also delivering are great signs for India where there we are seeing slowly a transition of Jadeja becoming more of a batting all-rounder in white ball cricket,” he said.
Jadeja will next be seen in action when India will face Hong Kong on Wednesday (31st August).
(Sports 18 inputs)
