New Delhi, Aug 11: Ravindra Jadeja’s transformation from a dependable all-rounder into a world-class middle-order batter reached its peak in England this summer, as he delivered one of the finest overseas Test series by an Indian in recent memory.
The left-hander amassed 516 runs in five matches at a staggering average of 86.00, finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer of the series, with one century and five half-centuries to his name.
The campaign began modestly at Leeds, but Birmingham marked the turning point.
There, Jadeja stitched marathon partnerships with captain Shubman Gill to help India pile up 608 and posted scores of 89 and an unbeaten 69. At Lord’s, he showcased his grit under pressure — first with a counter-attacking 72 to match England’s first-innings total, then with an unbeaten 61 in a tense chase, shepherding the tail as India almost pulled off an improbable win.
Old Trafford brought the reward for his persistence — a hard-fought century alongside Washington Sundar, rescuing India from a deficit of 311 and steering the game to safety.
He also shone with the ball, collecting a four-wicket haul in the match. At The Oval, his lower-order stands with Dhruv Jurel and Sundar proved decisive in setting up a match-winning 373-run lead.
In doing so, Jadeja entered elite company. His tally of 1,158 Test runs in England now trails only Sachin Tendulkar (1,575) and Rahul Dravid (1,376) among Indians.
Among batters playing at number six or below overseas, only Garry Sobers’ extraordinary record surpasses his runs-and-wickets combination in England. He also became the first Indian to score two centuries in England from that batting position, overtaking VVS Laxman’s long-standing record for most runs in a series by an Indian at number six or lower.
The numbers underline a remarkable career pivot. Before his maiden Test ton in 2018, Jadeja averaged 29.40 with the bat; since then, he has scored 2,710 runs at 43.01 — outpacing established top-order names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara over the same period.
His away record has been equally formidable, with 1,489 runs at 43.79 outside Asia since 2018.
Jadeja ended the England tour with 7,207 international runs and 7,000-plus career runs across formats, cementing his place as one of cricket’s most complete modern players.
From a reliable lower-order contributor to a specialist batter who can still deliver with the ball, his evolution has given India a balance few teams in world cricket enjoy. The question now is not whether Jadeja belongs in the top order, but just how much more he can add to India’s cause in the years to come. (Agencies)
