Rahul Dravid has always been big on data, but when it comes to assessing Ravindra Jadeja’s exceptional performances, the Indian coach looks more at the situational impact than dry statistics that reveal less and conceal more.
Jadeja has scored 81 runs in three innings and taken nine wickets in 55.3 overs at an economy rate of 3.78. These are very solid figures without being exceptional, like the 400-plus runs of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli or the 29 wickets shared between Jasprit Bumrah (15 in seven games) and Mohammed Shami (14 in three games).
“It was exceptional. I think, you know, Jadeja, somebody, when you look at the numbers, we look at statistics, we look at data, we look at it a lot. I mean, he’s been exceptional in this tournament” , Dravid said when asked about someone like Jadeja’s contribution.
“Because of how good our seamstresses have been and how fantastic it has been to see them up front, the performances of the likes of Jaddu (Jadeja) and Kuldeep (Yadav) have probably gone somewhat unnoticed,” Dravid said as he tried to get things in the process text. context.
With a timely 39 not out against New Zealand in a tough chase, 35 that took India past the 350-run mark against Sri Lanka and tied Australia in knots in the opening match, Jadeja has been the ‘impact player’ for India in this campaign .
Give him a situation and the Chennai Super King will almost certainly come up trumps.
“Sometimes even having to bowl with a slightly wetter ball because the ball has been a bit wet. Just the kind of control he has given us through the middle, the way the control he has given Rohit has been sensational,” Dravid said.
Jadeja has changed his bowling and now lands the ball more on the seam to gain grip and also hit one area consistently.
“And also just the areas he’s bowled, I think every metric tells us he’s up there with anyone in this tournament in terms of the areas he’s been able to reach, the speeds he’s been able to bowl at. is a lot of good conversations within the group during our bowlers’ meetings with him,” said his senior player’s coach.
Dravid feels that Jadeja is now at a stage where he knows exactly what he wants from himself.
“Just to see him in such a relaxed space and see very clearly what he wants to do and what he wants to achieve. And to have the confidence to do that consistently over and over again is fantastic.”
Dravid spoke about the two innings he has played so far.
“When you play in the top three you know you’re going to get a chance to play every game. Sometimes at the age of six and seven you’re not really sure when you’re going to get a chance. Or even sometimes you don’t even get a game, or you don’t even get a hit like they didn’t do in the first two or three games, like we hit.
“He (Jadeja) just came in and played critical blows. Even the last one was able to really give us a knock, a nice little 30 there. And that’s really good. And then his fielding is incredible,” to see someone like to have him on point and get some of the catches that he has. So a really great all-round package for us, and someone who really had a fantastic tournament. A little bit, maybe, a little bit under the radar,” the coach added.
Good to see Surya realizing his potential
===========================
The coach seemed happy that Suryakumar Yadav showed a different side as he batted with a gritty 49 on a tough track against England.
“You have to keep evolving. You have to keep getting better. And the more situations he (Surya) faces and how he comes out of them, like he did very well against England, the better he goes.” to join it,” Dravid said about ‘Mr 360’.
What has impressed Dravid the most is where Surya has improved, and he doesn’t just want to play his T20 game.
“Yes, I mean there are just terms when it comes to the areas he scores in T20 cricket and how fast he has to go in T20 cricket. He has clearly been exceptional in that regard.
‘And it’s good to see that in one-day cricket he also realizes that sometimes you can give yourself a little more time to get used to it. And then you know how dangerous he can be in death.’
Nearly a decade of high-quality domestic cricket and 82 first-class matches have really helped Surya, Dravid believes.
“I think he has that experience because he’s played so much domestic cricket. He’s been around for 10 years. So I think we rely a lot on his experience as well to really assess a situation.” Good.
“Just like against England, if we have wickets he should probably play a slightly different kind of role for a while and then try to go hard at the end.”
Surya and Jadeja are two players who are expected to be the X-factors at the backend in Hardik Pandya’s absence.
“It’s nice to have that experience of people like him and Jadeja at the back, just to be able to read the situation and play according to the situation. And that’s very important in one-day cricket.
“Sometimes in T20 cricket you just have to play one way. On a day, sometimes in a lower order than you can, you have to be smart enough to read a game and a situation.