The Indian all-rounder, now at No 2 in the ICC rankings, is raring to take on New Zealand in the final of the marquee tournament
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There isn’t a single aspect of cricket where Ravindra Jadeja wasn’t initially written off. Is he a batsman fit for Test cricket? Is his left-arm spin wily enough? Is International cricket his cup of tea? These were questions that were asked over and over again. Not any more. In 2019, the Saurashtra player, nicknamed ‘Rockstar’ by spin legend Shane Warne, became the quickest among left-arm spinners to take 200 Test wickets (in 44 matches). In his nine-year Test career, Jadeja has notched up 15 half-centuries and one century; his valiant batting down the order has often steadied the team after top-order collapses: Consider the 2018 Test against England at the Oval, or the 2019 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand. And his electrifying fielding has felled top batsmen, saved runs and drawn praise from peers like Australian Steve Smith, who called him the best fielder in the game.
Recently, Jadeja became the No 2-ranked all-rounder for Tests, behind Jason Holder of the West Indies, putting to rest all speculation about his abilities. In an email interview ahead of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, beginning Friday, Jadeja told Forbes India about his preparations for the game, his strategy to stay sharp, and the key turning point of his career. Edited excerpts:
How are you preparing for the World Test Championship final?
The ICC World Test Championship final will be held at Ageas Bowl in Southampton, UK, and the stadium is great for swing, fast and spin bowlers. I have been working on improving my spin by taking tips from my teammates and coaches. The pitch suggests spin will be an important aspect, especially towards the end of the game. I have also been working on my stroke play, preparing myself to play for longer innings, and hoping to put up top runs on the scoreboard. With past performances, I’m confident in my act. The World Test Championship is much like a physical marathon, but a test of our mental strategies. We have been longing to go one up on the Kiwis for a long time.
As an all-rounder, there is a lot of pressure on you to perform. Does that take a toll on you mentally?