Ravindra Jadeja played a pivotal role in India’s Test series victory over the West Indies. The Indian all-rounder reflected on his performances against the West Indies, admitting that his mindset has evolved ever since head coach Gautam Gambhir clarified his role in the team.
Jadeja’s all-round brilliance was one of the main reasons behind India’s dominant series win. In the first Test in Ahmedabad, the southpaw scored a brilliant century and backed it up with a four-wicket haul. In the second Test in Delhi, he didn’t get a chance to bat but still made a strong impact with the ball, taking four wickets across two innings.
Having already impressed with over 500 runs on the England Test tour, Ravindra Jadeja continued his rich vein of form at home, meeting expectations once again. His consistent contributions with both bat and ball earned him the Player of the Series award.
Reflecting on his performance, Ravindra Jadeja jokingly said he bowled more overs following Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement. He also praised the team’s collective effort and credited Gambhir for giving him much-needed clarity about his batting role.
“I got to bowl more overs (after Ashwin’s retirement),” Ravindra Jadeja said with a smile. “But overall, we’ve been doing great as a team — both in batting and bowling. We know what brand of cricket we’ve been playing for the last five or six months, and it’s a positive sign that we’re maintaining that consistency.
As Gauti bhai (Gambhir) said, I’m batting at number six now, so I’m thinking more like a proper batsman — and that’s helping me a lot. Earlier, when I batted at eight or nine, my mindset was different. Now I just try to spend as much time as possible in the middle whenever I get the opportunity.”
Ravindra Jadeja: “My focus is always on contributing with both bat and ball to help the team win”
Ravindra Jadeja emphasized that his primary goal is to contribute in all departments of the game to ensure his team’s success. The Indian all-rounder admitted that his performance with both bat and ball defines his value as a player.
“To be honest, I don’t think too much about records. I just focus on contributing with both bat and ball to help my team win. That’s always my aim. I feel if I don’t perform in both areas, it doesn’t truly reflect my worth as a player,” Ravindra Jadeja said.
He further added,
“I always give my 100 percent on the field. This is my third Man of the Series award, and I’m really happy to take it back home.”
Jadeja’s next assignment will be the home Test series against South Africa. He has, however, been left out of India’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series in Australia.
