'T20I numbers not good' - Aakash Chopra pays disrespectful tribute to Ravindra Jadeja after his T20I retirement
Published - 01 Jul 2024, 04:58 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:14 AM
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra shared his thoughts on star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's T20I retirement after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024. Aakash Chopra said that Ravindra Jadeja did not meet expectations in T20 cricket despite being well-suited for the shorter format of the game.
Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20Is following Team India's historic victory in the final match of the T20 World Cup 2024. The Men in Blue won the ICC tournament without losing a single match. However, Jadeja had a modest performance in the tournament, scoring only 35 runs and taking one wicket in eight games.
Used Only 12 players In This Entire Campaign - Aakash Chopra
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra stated that Ravindra Jadeja failed to live up to expectations in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024. Chopra said that Jadeja's performances have been underwhelming despite his potential for T20 cricket.
"Ravindra Jadeja - an interesting one actually because considering the sort of player he is, it seemed like he was cut out for T20 cricket. However, his numbers are not that good in T20 cricket, especially in international cricket, and this World Cup was also not like that," Chopra said.
Chopra highlighted that Rohit Sharma and the team management maintained their faith in Ravindra Jadeja throughout the T20 World Cup. Chopra noted that although Jadeja didn't excel in bowling, he played a crucial short innings in the semi-final.
"However, this is the way it is. At times, you are a part of a team that has the belief that Jaddu is there. So they kept faith in Jaddu and played him all the matches. In fact, this team used only 12 players in this entire campaign. He played a very important short knock in the semi-final. He didn't do that well in bowling, there is no doubt about it," Chopra added.
Jadeja made his T20I debut for India in 2009 and became a key all-rounder. Jadeja played 74 T20I matches for India in his career. The left-handed batter scored 515 runs at a decent average of 21.45, with a best score of 46*. He took 54 wickets at an average of under 30, with his best bowling figures of 3/15.
A Big Match Player - Aakash Chopra
The cricketer-turned-commentator said that Ravindra Jadeja stepped away from international T20 cricket at the right time, like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Chopra stated that the Chennai Super Kings all-rounder's match-winning innings in the IPL 2023 final is an example of his big-match temperament.
"Since he has bid goodbye to T20I cricket, I am not going to talk about the IPL final because he has also done the cometh the hour, cometh the man job as a big-match player. Like Rohit and Kohli, I think Ravindra Jadeja's decision has also come at the right time," Chopra stated.
Ravindra Jadeja secured his first World Cup title in the 2024 T20 World Cup, as he hadn't been part of India's previous triumphs in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. The left-arm spinner is expected to play a crucial role for the Indian team in the longer formats of the game.
