Jadeja's Batting Success: Thanks to Gambhir's Guidance
Ravindra Jadeja is having a remarkable year in 2025, showcasing his batting prowess with 659 runs at an impressive average of 82.38. His recent success can be largely credited to the strategic decision made by Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, who assigned him the number six batting position. This change has significantly impacted Jadeja’s approach to the game, allowing him to focus more on his batting skills.
Traditionally, Jadeja batted at lower positions, such as number eight and nine, which shaped his mindset differently. Now, as he embraces the number six spot, he feels more like a proper batsman. “As Gauti bhai said, I'm at number six now. So I’m thinking more as a proper batsman, and that works for me,” Jadeja shared. This shift has not only improved his mental approach but also his on-field performance.
In the ongoing series against the West Indies, Jadeja has shown his capabilities with both bat and ball. He scored a century during the first innings of the Test in Ahmedabad, which contributed significantly to India’s performance. Additionally, he took eight wickets throughout the series, earning him the Player of the Tournament award. His focus remains on contributing to the team's success rather than chasing personal records.
Reflecting on the team's dynamic, Jadeja mentioned that he looks forward to bowling more overs, especially following the retirement of fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. “I think we know what brand of cricket we’ve been playing over the last five, six months,” he explained, highlighting the collective effort of the team. This synergy is crucial as India celebrates its 2-0 series victory over the West Indies, marking a significant achievement under the captaincy of Shubman Gill.
The series win is especially meaningful as it is the first since Gill took over the captaincy. In his previous series against England, the results were balanced at 2-2. Jadeja's growth as a player, paired with the cohesive performance of the team, indicates a bright future for Indian cricket as they continue to build on their recent successes.
