Navjot Singh Sidhu questions Jadeja’s ability to finish games, despite strong performances in drawn matches against England.
One of India’s premier all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja, came under fire from former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, who openly questioned his ability to win Test matches for the national side. This comes after India drew the fourth Test against England in Manchester, where Jadeja played a key role in holding off defeat.
Jadeja’s Role in Manchester Draw Not Enough for Sidhu
- In the 4th Test at Manchester, Jadeja partnered with Washington Sundar to guide India to a hard-fought draw.
- While the performance kept India alive in the series, Sidhu wasn’t convinced.
- “He executes restrictive bowling well, but hasn’t won Tests like Kapil Dev used to,” Sidhu stated in a YouTube video.
Sidhu Compares Jadeja to Kapil Dev
- Sidhu acknowledged Jadeja’s talent, especially in white-ball formats.
- However, he drew a firm line between Jadeja and India’s iconic all-rounder, Kapil Dev: “Kapil Dev was a bowling all-rounder who won Tests overseas. Jadeja supports well, but doesn’t finish games,” Sidhu emphasized.
Recurring Criticism After Lord’s Loss
This isn’t the first time Jadeja has been called out for not finishing Test matches:
- In the Lord’s Test, India fell short by 22 runs while chasing 193.
- Despite Jadeja’s unbeaten 61, wickets tumbled at the other end.
- England’s Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer led a devastating attack, leaving India at 112/8 and ending hopes of a win.
Match Summary: England vs India – 4th Test Highlights
- Both teams scored 387 in their first innings.
- India dismissed England for 192 in the second innings.
- Chasing just 193, India collapsed to 58/4, then 112/8.
- Jadeja remained not out on 61, but couldn’t pull off the win.
Conclusion: A Great All-Rounder, But a Finisher?
Ravindra Jadeja has undoubtedly been a stalwart for India in limited-overs cricket, but questions over his Test match-winning credentials continue to linger. While his consistency and resilience are admired, former players like Sidhu believe the true measure of greatness lies in turning close contests into victories — something Jadeja has yet to master in the longest format.
Also Read : Dale Steyn Fires Back at ‘Boot-Licking’ Comment Amid Ben Stokes–Ravindra Jadeja Test Draw Debate
