New Delhi: They say it’s not how you begin but how you end that defines your legacy as a cricketer. If judged by it, Ravindra Jadeja ended his T20I career on the perfect note as India won the T20 World Cup after 17 years.
The all-rounder announced his retirement from the 20-over format a day after India’s T20 World Cup triumph, becoming the third senior cricketer to quit after Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma.
The 35-year-old has been one of the key players across formats for the Indian team but an ordinary T20 World Cup campaign showed that his efforts were on the wane.
He could only take one wicket in seven innings at an economy rate of 7.57 and an average of 106 and could only play bit part role as a batter in the tournament.
In the final in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday, he was dismissed for only two runs in as many balls, getting caught out in the last ball of India’s innings as they scored 176/7.
India restricted South Africa to 169/8 to win by seven runs as Jadeja was called up to bowl only an over, in which he conceded 12 runs.
He must have been the first to realise that age is against him to meet the demands of the fast-paced T20 format. As Kohli mentioned while announcing his retirement that it was an open secret that the final was his last T20I match in Indian colours, Jadeja too must have made up his mind a while ago.
‘Rockstar’
When India announced their 15-member squad, Jadeja was picked as one of the four spinners with he and Axar Patel being the two spin-bowling all-rounders.
Throughout the tournament Patel grew in stature, earning the trust of skipper Rohit to be brought into the attack ahead of Jadeja. Now as he leaves the stage after 15 years and six T20 World Cups, Jadeja would only be happy to pass on the baton to a worthy successor in Patel.
Since debuting against Sri Lanka in February 2009 in Colombo, Jadeja played in 74 T20I matches, scoring 515 runs, averaging 21.45 with a strike rate of 127.16.
The left-arm spinner claimed 54 wickets at an average of 29.85, cinceding at an economy rate of 7.13 and signs off making 130 runs and picking up 22 wickets in six editions of the T20 World Cup.
He came into the limelight as part of Rajasthan Royals’ triumph in inaugural edition of 2008 when as a young all-rounder, earning the nickname “Rockstar” from then skipper the late Shane Warne.
After Chennai Super Kings paid Rs 9.8 crore in 2012, he helped them to three IPL titles, becoming the man of the match in 2023, hittinhfour off the last ball of the final against Gujarat Titans.
In the Indian jersey, he shown more for his electirc fielding than his batting or bowling in the T20I format.
“Winning the T20 World Cup was a dream come true, a pinnacle of my T20 International career. Thank you for the memories, the cheers, and the unwavering support. Jai hind,” Jadeja said.
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Ravindra Jadeja announced his retirement from the 20-over format a day after India’s T20 World Cup triumph, becoming the third senior cricketer to quit after Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
