Superb fielding makes Jadeja an all-round package
Ravindra Jadeja running out Steve Smith in the first innings has been a major highlight of the ongoing Sydney Test. Josh Hazlewood getting rid of Hanuma Vihari with a splendid diving stop followed by a direct hit at the bowlers end while still sprawled on the ground was another stellar fielding effort so far in the match, but all things considered, Jadeja’s was a nudge better.
He had to cover 25-30 yards, all the while keeping one eye on the ball, the other on the batsmen trying to complete the second. Haring in from the deep, Jadeja picked up the ball on the run, then found the bullseye with only one stump to aim at, leaving Smith inches short of the crease. It made for one of the most dazzling pieces of fielding action seen in recent times anywhere.
This was not an isolated instance of Jadeja’s brilliant fielding. In the 8-9 years since he has been part of the Indian team, he’s made a huge impact with the speed with which he covers ground, his sure catching, and direct hits from very difficult angles. All of these put pressure on rival batsmen who are loath to take any risk against him.
How would Jadeja rate as a fielder in Indian cricket? From those I’ve seen he is certainly among the best 5, the others being Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Eknath Solkar, Kapil Dev and Mohamed Azharuddin. For sustained excellence over many matches and many years, this cluster moves ahead of the likes of Abid Ali, Brijesh Patel, Yuvraj Singh, Mohamed Kaif, Robin Singh, Virat Kohli.
Electric-heeled Pataudi earned the sobriquet of ‘Tiger’ for his prowling presence and speed in the covers. In fact, he was the first to put emphasis on fielding after becoming captain in 1962. With a predominantly spin attack at his disposal, Pataudi structured the legendary closein trap for Bedi, Prasanna, Chandrashekhar and Venkataraghavan which proved so rewarding from the 1960s through the 1990s.
Solkar was one of those brought in by Pataudi into the Indian team and earned immortality for his exploits standing at forward short-leg. Apart from his quicksilver reflexes and clean catching, Solkar was courage personified. Remember, in his time, there were no helmets. Fielding at short-leg carried huge risk which Solkar bore heroically.
Kapil Dev was a natural athlete and with great ball sense. Strong legs made him cover big distances on the field speedily, and his catching was brilliant because of fine anticipation which got him into position early. His throws to the wicket-keeper from the deep came in like missiles. Late in his career, he fielded in the slips with success too.
Azharuddin is arguably the best all-round fielder India’s had, equally good in the deep and close-in, either at silly point or in the slips/gully/leg trap. He was also big-hearted like Solkar, taking many knocks at silly point. Unlike in Solkar’s time, however, there were helmets around when Azhar was playing.
The common factor between these five is their love for fielding. Where so many players see it as chore and a necessary evil, Pataudi, Solkar, Kapil, Azhar and Jadeja were passionate about it. Pataudi once told me that the runs saved/given away should be factored into averages to get a player’s true worth.
Historically, Indian cricketers haven’t been renowned for their fielding. Speed and athleticism in players were not given too much significance. The essential demand used to be for ’safe’ rather than spectacular fielding. That situation has changed dramatically in the last two decades.
Fielding standards in the country have improved because of better grounds, more scientific training methods, proper diet and sports medicine, increased competition (both outside and within) and, of course, livelihood. Money attached to cricket is extremely high today. Nobody wants a ‘passenger’ in the field.
Jadeja is the modern exemplar for brilliant fielding and an inspiration for budding cricketers. In fact, his fielding prowess has been a big factor in why he is now a regular member of the Indian team in all three formats. Breaking into the side essentially as a left-arm spinner, Jadeja’s batting has also improved by leaps and bounds — especially in the five-day format — in the past couple of years. But it is his superb fielding that makes him a complete ‘all-round’ package which selectors and team man management can’t ignore.