Former England spinner Graeme Swann reckons it was a big thing for Ravindra Jadeja to admit that captaincy was out of his league. Jadeja was bestowed with captaincy onus before the start of the season as MS Dhoni decided to pass on the baton. However, Jadeja could not handle the pressure and as a result, Chennai lost six out of the eight games in which he lead.
As the pressure was mounting on Jadeja, he decided to relinquish his captaincy duties and gave the baton back to MS Dhoni. As Jadeja had not led at any level before he was given CSK’s leadership, the all-rounder looked like a fish without water.
In fact, Jadeja has all the experience under his belt but he could not lead from the front and his individual performance also took a hit.
On the other hand, Jadeja has struggled to get going with the bat as he has mustered only 116 runs in 10 matches in IPL 2022 at an average of 19.33 and a strike rate of 118.36. Thus, he clearly hasn’t been at his usual best for the reigning champions.
“We all have our favorite teams to play against and the fact that he has done well against RCB in the past is pretty important. It is such a big thing for Jadeja to admit that ‘look, captaincy is out of my league. I am not comfortable with it. The male ego doesn’t allow you to say it comfortably. So, the fact that he has done that and allowed MS to get back in is better for him, CSK and it is good news all around and honestly, I love him. I think he is brilliant. What he gives to any franchise is incredible. CSK would be half the side without him,” Swann had said while speaking to Star Sports during RCB vs CSK game in Pune.
On the other hand, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri also spoke on the same lines as Graeme Swann. Shastri, who isn’t known to mince his words, said it was a sensible call from Jadeja to quit captaincy.
“Good on him to go up and tell straight up that I can’t handle it. It’s something I am not used to. He has not been captained at any level whatsoever. So, it’s good. I think we will see a different cricketer. He can do what he wants, that responsibility of being captain is gone and all three departments can come out full force,” said Shastri.
Meanwhile, since MS Dhoni has taken over the captaincy, CSK has won one and lost one. CSK will next face Delhi Capitals at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Sunday.
