From a youngster with bags of potential to a world-beating all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja has evolved tremendously over the years. He has become an indisputable asset for the Indian side and Jadeja’s ability to pick up wickets, score valuable runs as well as have an impact while fielding makes him an automatic choice for all three formats. Over the last few years, he has overshadowed Hardik Pandya’s all-round impact on the side and is up there with Ben Stokes as the best all-rounder in the game.

However, Jadeja’s road to success certainly wasn’t easy. There was a period of 18 months prior to India’s last tour of England when Jadeja’s presence in the side was erratic. He would be in and out of the squad frequently and failed to get consistent game time.

Cricket commentator Aakash Chopra discussed these highs and lows of Jadeja’s career and explained how he went on to become a supreme all-rounder for India.

“Sir Ravindra Jadeja, no one knew Jaddu will reach till here. In fact, he had a very low point, he was banned from the IPL. This was in 2010 as he was negotiating a contract outside the laws of the IPL at that point in time,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“Later on, he was not getting picked in ODIs and T20Is as well when Kul-Cha were playing and he used to be behind Ashwin in Tests. So overall the career used to move and then stop, sometimes due to a ban and performance at other times. It took time for Jaddu’s true colors to come out.”

Jadeja’s biggest improvement over the years has been evident in his batting. He was in blistering form with the bat during the tour of Australia and in the recent IPL season. Chopra pointed out Jadeja’s half-century against England in 2018 as the ‘turning point’ in his career.

“But to come back from that, the journey has been absolutely outstanding. The turning point of his career was the fifth Test against England in 2018 where he scored an unbeaten 86. He got confidence after that and has not looked back ever since,” Chopra added.

“Wherever he goes, he scores runs and takes wickets. He has been a match-winner and is doing everything you have asked him to do, whether you talk about ODIs, T20Is or Tests. His batting has improved and fielding is absolutely outstanding.”