Ravindra Jadeja's 5 most memorable moments in T20Is
India's premier all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja called time on his illustrious T20I career in an Instagram post. The announcement came after India's 2024 T20 World Cup title win over South Africa on Saturday, June 29.
Since making his T20I debut in 2009, Jadeja took 54 wickets and garnered 515 runs in 74 appearances. The 2024 T20 World Cup saw him playing in all games and contributing 35 runs and a solitary wicket.
On that note, let's take a look at the five memorable moments of Ravindra Jadeja's T20I career.
#1 Receiving Player of the Match award for his fielding effort against Australia in 2012
On Feb. 3, 2012, India faced off against Australia in Melbourne. After Praveen Kumar inflicted a double strike on the home side, it was time for Ravindra Jadeja to come up with a terrific effort from the point region. The all-rounder delivered an accurate throw to MS Dhoni to run out Aaron Finch in the seventh over.
A few overs later, Jadeja dived at the same region to pass on the ball to bowler Rahul Sharma at the non-striker's end, and found George Bailey short of his crease.
Then, Jadeja induced a leading edge and secured a caught-and-bowled dismissal of David Hussey. He finished with two run-outs and figures of 1/16 off three overs as Australia posted only 131 on the board.
In reply, Gautam Gambhir (56*) top-scored, as India sealed the chase in the last over. Jadeja was announced as the Player of the Match for his contributions.
#2 Scoring a match-winning 44* off 29 against Australia in 2020
In the first game of T20I series against Australia in December 2020 in Canberra, Ravindra Jadeja provided an impactful contribution to help India win by 11 runs. Batting first, India were stuttering at 114/6 in the 17th over, when Jadeja arrived at the crease.
After assessing the conditions well, Jadeja slammed three fours and a six in the penultimate over against Josh Hazlewood. Then, he provided a fine flourish by hitting two fours against Mitchell Starc and remained unbeaten on 44* off 29 to help India post 161 on the board.
In response, Australia managed to score 150/7 in their stipulated 20 overs.
#3 Producing his best T20I figures of 3/15 against Scotland in 2021 T20 World Cup
India faced-off against Scotland in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. After the bowling unit picked up two wickets in the powerplay overs, Jadeja was introduced into the attack. He immediately made an impact by breaching the defense of Richie Berrington and trapping Matthew Cross.
In the 12th over, Jadeja found Michael Leask plumb LBW to pull on the misery on Scotland. In the end, Jadeja went on to finish with figures of 3/15 in four overs and the Scottish side were bundled out for 85. Then, India chased down a paltry target of 86 inside seven overs.
#4 Contributing clutch 35 against Pakistan in 2022 Asia Cup
This game between arch-rivals, India and Pakistan witnessed the latter posting 147 on the board. Then, Ravindra Jadeja was promoted to the No. 4 spot after the dismissals of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. After Virat Kohli also made his way to the dugout, the Men in Blue were at 53/3 in the 10th over.
The southpaw stitched a crucial 36-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav to put the team back on track. He remained until the 19th over to end with 35 off 29, with two fours and as many sixes. Then, Hardik Pandya scored 33* off 17, as India won the game with two balls to spare.
#5 Slamming his highest score of 46* off 22 vs England
The second game of the T20I series against England in Birmingham in July 2022 saw Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant get India off to a 49-run opening stand. However, with 89/5 in the 11th over, Jadeja came to the rescue of the Indian team.
He produced his finest-ever knock of 46* off 29, with five fours to pave the way for the team to post 170. Then, the bowling unit did well to help India win the game by 49 runs.