Jadeja is slowly providing true value to team

[rkt.india]

Tackling spin was on top of Australia's agenda when they arrived in India, but their focus would have been on Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha. But it is the diminutive Saurashtra all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, who is giving none other than Michael Clarke sleepless nights. The 24-year-old got the Aussie skipper stumped first ball in the Mohali Test on Friday with one that pitched and spun away sharply, finishing as the best of the three spinners on view with three wickets. Clarke is slowly turning out to be Jadeja's bunny as it is the fourth time that the dangerous batsman has fallen to him. Jadeja put it down to 'luck' but it is clear the world-class batsman is very uncomfortable facing Jadeja's left-arm spin. Chennai tales In Chennai, Clarke miscued to be caught in the deep after scoring a brilliant hundred. In Hyderabad, he was bowled in both the innings. In Mohali, Jadeja removed opener David Warner and Clarke off successive deliveries to provide the initial breakthroughs on a pitch not half as threatening as in the first two Tests as yet. Jadeja was modest. "It's happening like that, luckily when I'm bowling he's coming to bat and in this series I've got him four times. It feels good. His wicket is important for the team because if he scores, they get a big score." Jadeja would not be playing Tests but for the faith reposed in him by skipper MS Dhoni, who sees him as the best substitute in the absence of a seam-bowling all-rounder. And Jadeja, who made his Test debut against England in Nagpur, has claimed 14 wickets in this series so far, only four behind Ashwin's tally. The last 12 months have been a sort of roller coaster ride for Jadeja. He was snapped up in the 2012 Indian Premier League auction by the Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings, who shelled out $2 million and then an undisclosed sum to clinch a tie-break against the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. He was on a high. But inconsistent performances followed and he was quickly dubbed over-rated and over-valued. He was dumped from the limited-overs squad and excluded for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, reduced to ply his trade in the inter-district competition in Saurashtra. But Jadeja regained his confidence during home ODI series win over England. Praises Former India left-arm spinner Maninder Singh praised Jadeja's bowling on what was essentially a first day pitch. "It is clear he is growing in confidence, today he was the best," he told HT. "His line is brilliant, on and outside off-stump. And his round-arm action makes the incoming delivery very effective. Since he is so accurate, batsmen can't leave him." The next challenge for Jadeja, a brilliant fielder and thrower, will be to prove his worth with the bat in Tests. That will help him get selected in Tests abroad where India often play only one spinner.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Specials/Cricket/India-VS-Australia-2013/Chunk-HT-UI-IndiaVSAustralia2013-TopStories/Jadeja-is-slowly-providing-true-value-to-team/SP-Article10-1027147.aspx

[Straight Drive]

Jadeja has picked enough number of wickets given the fact that he is not a specialist spinner. Well done to him. IMO he is a very good number 7 test candidate when we play countries like England, Australia, NZL, SA on Indian wickets. However, it amuses me to read that he is being considered as better than Ojha by many a fans. Does anyone really feels we will play Jadeja as a specialist spinner ahead of Ashwin or Ojha when we play against the likes of Srilanka and Pakistan ? Having said that he, has enjoyed a successful comeback in tests as well as ODI's series which have been played in India. S we have to persist with him. But not at the cost of Ashwin or Ojha. The no 7 spot on home tours is available for him and he's shown he is very much worthy of that.

[Sachin=GOD]

I think he has sealed his spot in the side. He does need to work on his batting but overall he has shown that he provides value at no 7.

[Tiger80]

At present Jadeja is looking as best spinner of India

[Straight Drive]

Maybe he has made "Clarke" his bunny wicket.

[veer]

Yup.. He needs to improve his test batting though

[philcric]

Hope he discovers his batting at test level. Gives India a different option in different conditions. For example, in some of the SA and Aus pitches, there's nothing in it for spinners (unless you are a really good leggie). There could be a case to pick 4 pacers and Jadeja. Jadeja's ER at FC and test level is excellent. He can keep it steady and the 4 pacers can go all out at all times without worrying about saving themselves towards the end of the day. One of the frustrating things about India in challenging conditions abroad is as a bowling unit they run out of steam after one decent partnership by the opposition. Spinner is ineffective (esp in 1st innings) and out of the 3 pacers, only 1 or at best 2 will be bowling well. After a couple of spells, they run out of steam,, and we are at the mercy of the opposition's batting. 4 pacers keeps them in the game for longer periods. I can imagine attack of Zak, Umesh, Bhuvi, Pankaj, Jadeja doing much better than like say Zak, Umesh, Bhuvi and Ashwin. Another option that could turn out good in SA and Aus is Zak, Umesh, Bhuvi/Pankaj, Irfan, Jadeja that gives more batting depth still having good bowling options (of course assuming Irfan is fit and in form).

[rkt.india]

Yup.. He needs to improve his test batting though

what batting Ojha can do?

[Crookbond]

Alan Border - You can't discount the fact that he has dismissed Michael Clarke 5 out of 6 times. I will play him in a Test match just to get that wicket.

[TheWall]

well.. as far as this series goes.. Jadeja is a winner in bowling dept...

[FreakazoiD]

Jadeja has picked enough number of wickets given the fact that he is not a specialist spinner. Well done to him. IMO he is a very good number 7 test candidate when we play countries like England, Australia, NZL, SA on Indian wickets. However, it amuses me to read that he is being considered as better than Ojha by many a fans. Does anyone really feels we will play Jadeja as a specialist spinner ahead of Ashwin or Ojha when we play against the likes of Srilanka and Pakistan ? Having said that he, has enjoyed a successful comeback in tests as well as ODI's series which have been played in India. S we have to persist with him. But not at the cost of Ashwin or Ojha. The no 7 spot on home tours is available for him and he's shown he is very much worthy of that.

What comeback? Jadeja has never been dropped from the test team, he's performed since day 1. Ashwin on the other hand was an abject failure in Australia.

[adi B]

:facepalm: reality is far from it

[DomainK]

Good performance from him. I know that he has been at the receiving end of many jokes recently, but his contribution in this series has to be recognized, appreciated and celebrated.

[indiefan]

At least, Jadeja has to be commended for hitting the fours and going for the win in the Mohali test match; waking up our captain from the "slumber".

[vamos_rafa]

At least' date=' Jadeja has to be commended for hitting the fours and going for the win in the Mohali test match; waking up our captain from the "slumber".[/quote'] Sachin did that too. Kaptaan saheb ko dikha hi nahi tab.

[Straight Drive]

What comeback? Jadeja has never been dropped from the test team' date=' he's performed since day 1. Ashwin on the other hand was an abject failure in Australia.[/quote'] That's my mistake. Ashwin is a good spinner . Just have a look at his test career. How many current spinners have 8 five wicket hauls in 15 tests ? Jadeja has done well and deserves a place at 7 in India. But by no means he is better than Ashwin or Ojha as far as bowling is the only criteria.

[Executioner]

To be quite honest, anil kumble would have atleast 5 5-fers had he played against such an aussie side in such a dustbowl. Clue less would be an understatement of the condition of the aussies.

[cowboysfan]

That's my mistake. Ashwin is a good spinner . Just have a look at his test career. How many current spinners have 8 five wicket hauls in 15 tests ? Jadeja has done well and deserves a place at 7 in India. But by no means he is better than Ashwin or Ojha as far as bowling is the only criteria.

If you are the aussies ,who would you rather play-Jaddu or Ashwin?.its an honest question,i am not saying Jadeja is better than ashwin.

[BeautifulGame]

To be quite honest, anil kumble would have atleast 5 5-fers had he played against such an aussie side in such a dustbowl. Clue less would be an understatement of the condition of the aussies.

Kumble had the chance to play against the like of England and SA who were even worse than this Aussie side

[bharat297]

At home Jadeja is a handy cricketer. The pitches are also flat enough to suit his batting style. He needs a bit of turn in the deck to be effective, whereas Ojha can turn it on most decks (he carved up county cricket for Surrey in 2011). Away from home, they should replace Jadeja with a specialist batsman. Rohit Sharma or Ajinkya Rahane should come in at No.6 for the South Africa series. I would go with Rohit because he can bowl a few overs too and he's technically stronger but Rahane has had to wait for quite a while.