Former India head coach, Ravi Shastri has recently revealed about a conversation he had with current allrounder, Ravindra Jadeja.
He feels that the impact of that conversation is reaping benefits for Jadeja in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Currently, Jadeja is in a purple patch in the Test series where has been the chief architect for India’s victories.
India is currently leading the series 2-0 and are now aiming to qualify for the WTC final.
Additionally, in both Tests, Jadeja has shown great prowess with bat and ball.
Therefore, he has become India’s go-to allrounder in Tests and they are banking heavily upon him to win them the series 4-0.
Back in 2019, Jadeja was dropped from the Lord’s Test when India had gone on a tour of England.
There, both Shastri and then bowling coach, Bharat Arun instilled a positivity in Jadeja and told him to focus more on his batting skills.
Says Shastri,
I think he is hungry, he is supremely fit. He is very passionate about the sport. I remember not too many conversations, but it was at Lord’s in the 2019 tour. He didn’t play that game. It was a conversation that happened. We had a chat, Bharat Arun was there, the bowling coach as well. We said, you have got everything in you, just focus on that batting of yours.
Adding further, Shastri says,
Work a little harder in that area in the nets because you have got the game, you have the talent and it’s weird telling you that you have got that talent. It is for you to realise that you have got that talent. You believe that you have got the talent.
Shastri is now quite happy with the results of that conversation
After four years, Shastri now feels that that conversation has seriously helped Jadeja for the better.
The Indian allrounder is now focusing more on both his batting and bowling skills and has been a success story so far for India.
Moreover, he has been adjudged the Player of the Match in both Tests and Shastri says that Jadeja will definitely bounce back after missing certain tours for India.
On the other hand, after giving such exceptional performances in both Tests, Jadeja has now become a clear favourite of the team management as well.
Says Shastri,
Once he got the opportunity later, he has not looked back, having got runs in crucial stages, in trying conditions and then of course, with the ball, he does his job. That’s why in overseas conditions it becomes a nightmare for a coach to pick a spinner. If you have to pick only one, then it is a nightmare. Look at Ashwin’s record and then you have Jadeja, it becomes tough.
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