Ravindra Jadeja’s exceptional all-around abilities have earned him high praise from India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel. Jadeja recently achieved the remarkable feat of 300 Test wickets and 3000 runs, becoming the second fastest to reach this milestone.
Morkel hailed Jadeja as a “complete package” who excels in all aspects of the game. “He bats, he bowls, he’s a guy in the field that can make magic happen,” Morkel said. “He’s a guy that you want in your team, and he’s done that for so many years for India.”
Jadeja’s partnership with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been a formidable force for India. Morkel noted that the duo’s ability to restrict scoring opportunities has been key to their success. “These are guys that don’t give you any bad balls,” he said. “You always have to find ways to score. If you face that from both ends, you’re going to work hard for your run.”
Despite facing weather-related challenges in the ongoing Test against Bangladesh, Morkel praised the Indian team’s resilience. “The way the guys went off the field, still doing their gym work, looking after their bodies, was impressive to see,” he said. “We knew, once we get the opportunity, we’re always going to look at the positive way and how we can impact that.”
Morkel also commended the Indian batters for their aggressive approach in the first innings. “The way the boys went to the ball up-front, it was incredible to see,” he said. “We created the pressure (with the ball) and brought wickets, and then to show the intent with the bat was awesome.”
Morkel emphasized the importance of creating pressure in Test cricket. “If you can do that for a long period, you’ll get results,” he said. “This group so far has been on the money, great to see how we adapt to conditions.”
He also praised the Indian batters’ versatility and ability to adapt to different situations. “We’ve got guys that can play different styles,” he said. “That’s one of the advantages of our batting line-up is that we’ve got guys that can really sort of play the moment and put bowlers under pressure.”
Morkel concluded by expressing his admiration for the Indian team’s professionalism. “For me, it’s so far, so enjoyable to see how professional they are and how they go about their daily life to put on a performance,” he said. “When it comes to recovery, you know, it’s right up there.”
