India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja added another major milestone to his Test career on Monday, becoming only the fourth cricketer in history to complete the double of at least 4,000 runs and 350 wickets in the format.
Jadeja reached the landmark on the third day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka. Bowling during Sri Lanka’s first innings, the left-arm spinner claimed two wickets to take his career tally to 350.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Keshara Nuwantha were Jadeja’s two victims as he reached the milestone. Earlier in the match, the Indian all-rounder had scored 13 runs during his side’s innings.
The achievement puts Jadeja in a highly exclusive group of Test all-rounders. Before him, only India’s Kapil Dev, England’s Ian Botham and New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori had managed to score at least 4,000 Test runs while also taking 350 or more wickets.
Jadeja stands out from the other three players because he is the only member of the group to have achieved the double in fewer than 100 Test appearances.
Kapil leads the distinguished list with 5,248 runs and 434 wickets from 131 Tests for India. The former India all-rounder remains ahead of the others in both career runs and wickets among the four players.
Botham follows with 5,200 Test runs and 383 wickets during his career with England. Vettori is the third player on the list, having accumulated 4,530 runs and claimed 362 wickets for New Zealand.
Jadeja’s entry into the group further underlines his contribution with both bat and ball during his Test career. While his latest match produced only 13 runs with the bat in India’s innings, his two wickets proved enough for him to cross the significant bowling landmark.
Reaching 350 Test wickets is a notable achievement on its own, but combining that tally with more than 4,000 runs places Jadeja among a small collection of players who have made substantial contributions in both disciplines.
With the milestone completed against Sri Lanka, Jadeja now shares a place in Test cricket history with three of the format’s prominent all-rounders — Kapil, Botham and Vettori.
