All-Star India Ravindra Jadeja36, delivered a dominant performance in the two-match Test series against the West Indies, which India swept by a wide margin. Winning by seven wickets in the second match On Tuesday (October 14). Jadeja was deservedly named Player of the Series, capping off a display of tremendous skills with both bat and ball.
However, in the post-match presentation, Jadeja gave a candid explanation for his success, pointing out the major strategic change implemented by the head coach. Gautam Gambhir.
Ravindra Jadeja turned in Test cricket
The primary reason for Jadeja’s improvement, according to the player himself, is his rise in the batting order. He emphasized that moving to the decisive sixth position has fundamentally changed his style of the game.
“As Gauti bhai (Gambhir) said, I am at number six now. So I am thinking more as a proper batsman, and that suits me.” Jadeja said during the post-match ceremony.
This shift in mindset represents a major evolution from his previous role. Jadeja explained that for many years, being placed at number eight or nine required a “different” mentality. Now, thinking ‘more than just a proper batsman’ has clearly brought out the best in his abilities. This change appears to be part of the team’s broader sustainable philosophy. “I think we know the kind of cricket we’ve been playing over the last five or six months. So, it’s a good sign as a team that we continue to do that over a long period of time.” He added, highlighting the consistent strategy under Gambhir.
Why was Jadeja named the best player for the series against West Indies?
Jadeja’s performance metrics fully justified the Player of the Series award. His most notable contribution came in the opener in Ahmedabad, where he compiled a crucial knock of 104 runs with the bat. Complementing this batting prowess, he was equally impressive with the ball, taking eight wickets in the two matches.
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Despite the impressive accolades and statistics, Jadeja stressed that he is not chasing achievements. His focus remains firmly on his role as an all-rounder and ensures he delivers in both areas to justify his place in the starting XI.
“To be honest, I don’t think much about records. I just focus on contributing with bat and ball to help my team win. I always look forward to doing that,” He explained. “I feel that if I don’t play with the bat and the ball, it doesn’t reflect my value as a player.”
The Indian team’s success, says the all-rounder, is rooted in team effort and consistent high performance across the team’s batting and bowling units. Jadeja’s renewed confidence and contribution from number six is expected to be a key factor in India’s future Test assignments.
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