"His numbers are not that good in T20 cricket" - Aakash Chopra on Ravindra Jadeja's T20I retirement
Aakash Chopra reckons Ravindra Jadeja didn't live up to his potential in T20I cricket. He noted that the spin-bowling all-rounder's game seemed ideally suited to the shortest format but he didn't set the stage on fire, especially at the international level.
India defeated South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados on Saturday, June 29. Jadeja joined Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in announcing their T20I retirement after the title win.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra pointed out that Jadeja didn't deliver as per expectation in T20Is, including in the recently concluded World Cup.
"Ravindra Jadeja - an interesting one actually because considering the sort of player he is, it seemed like he was cut out for T20 cricket. However, his numbers are not that good in T20 cricket, especially in international cricket, and this World Cup was also not like that," he said (8:55).
The former India opener noted that Rohit Sharma and the team management reposed faith in Jadeja throughout the tournament despite the latter's underwhelming performances.
"However, this is the way it is. At times, you are a part of a team that has the belief that Jaddu is there. So they kept faith in Jaddu and played him all the matches. In fact, this team used only 12 players in this entire campaign. He played a very important short knock in the semi-final. He didn't do that well in bowling, there is no doubt about it," Chopra observed.
Jadeja aggregated 35 runs, including an unbeaten nine-ball 17 in the semi-final against England, at an average of 11.67 in five innings in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He picked up a solitary wicket at an average of 106.00 and an economy rate of 7.57 in 14 overs in mostly bowling-friendly conditions.
"If you give favorable conditions, he bowls extremely well" - Aakash Chopra on Ravindra Jadeja
Aakash Chopra picked Ravindra Jadeja's spectacular fielding, bowling in helpful conditions, and batting ability as his plus points.
"If we keep this World Cup aside, he has been good. He has been an incredible fielder. You might not get a better fielder than him in modern-day cricket. If you give favorable conditions, he bowls extremely well, and he has the batting might as well," he said (9:35).
While recalling the Chennai Super Kings all-rounder's match-winning knock in the IPL 2023 final, the cricketer-turned-commentator opined that Jadeja, much like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, chose the right moment to retire from T20Is.
"Since he has bid goodbye to T20I cricket, I am not going to talk about the IPL final because he has also done the cometh the hour, cometh the man job as a big-match player. Like Rohit and Kohli, I think Ravindra Jadeja's decision has also come at the right time," Chopra stated.
Jadeja aggregated 515 runs at an average of 21.45 and a strike rate of 127.16 in 41 T20I innings. The left-arm spinner picked up 54 wickets at an average of 29.85 and an economy rate of 7.13 in 71 T20I innings.