Unnoticed Jadeja makes huge impact once again 

Just a day before the match against South Africa, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid gave a glowing ratification of the role Sir Ravindra Jadeja has played in the side. The veteran all rounder has now picked up 14 wickets in the competition so far. Taking more than one wicket in every game is a decent return but so good has the Indian bowling attack been that even Dravid felt Jadeja’s contribution had been overlooked. Even when his performance was about to get some recognition, against Bangladesh, a late flourish from Kohli to his century implied he was the Player of the Match. 

24 hours after Dravid’s comments Jadeja became only the fifth bowler to claim a five-for in the ongoing edition of the World Cup. He can’t go unnoticed now. However, as the coach stated, the criteria that really matter within the team are not only wickets. 

If you look at the numbers, we look at stats, we look at data, we look at it quite a lot, he has been exceptional in this tournament," Dravid said of Jadeja. "Because of how good our seamers have been and how fantastic it has been to watch them upfront, the performances of people like Jaddu and Kuldeep [Yadav] have probably gone slightly unnoticed.

"But I think his ability, and sometimes even having to bowl with a slightly wetter ball, because the ball has been slightly wet… Just the kind of control that he's given us through the middle has been sensational. And just the areas he's bowled as well, I think every metric point tells us that he's up there with anyone in this tournament in terms of just the areas he's been able to hit, the speeds he's been able to bowl at.

"There's a lot of good conversations around the group in our bowlers' meetings with him. And just to see him in that kind of relaxed space and very clear about what he wants to do and what he wants to achieve. And just having that confidence to do that consistently over and over again has been fantastic.

"Then with the bat, again, not easy for someone like him because bats at seven, doesn't play for three or four games, and then has to come in and again play quite an important innings every time. So that's the tough thing for guys who bat at six and seven. When you're batting in the top three, you know that every single game you're going to get an opportunity to play. Sometimes at six and seven, you're not really sure when you're going to get a chance. Or even sometimes you won't even get a hit like they haven't for the first two or three games. The way we batted, he just came in and played critical knocks.

"And then his fielding is incredible, to have someone like him at point and taking some of the catches that he has. So a really great all-around package for us, and someone who's really had a fantastic tournament [but] a little bit maybe gone under the radar."

No longer unnoticed, Jadeja is delighted with his bowling rhythm and prowess to chip in with crucial runs down the order.  He was asked what an important player such as him would be if he was a skipper. 

I would be very happy [to have myself]," Jadeja said. "And you asked me to think like a captain? I have been thinking like the captain from the first match, it's a different matter that I haven't become one."

Jadeja said: "As an allrounder, my role is to make an impact in tough situations. When you need the crucial 30-40 runs. Or when there is a partnership going on and you need a wicket. Change the game. I always try to give an impactful performance, and be there whenever the team needs me.

"And fielding I never take for granted. I still feel I can drop a catch. I am always prepared on the field. I never relax. And that's all: I keep trying to do my best. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't, but I keep trying all the time."

In a contest where Jadeja said India were looking to push past their limits, his performance under the lights will please him even more. He said that the pitch was more challenging in the afternoon because not only did it produce turn, but its slow nature made stroke-play extremely difficult, adding that it got better in the evening. It was almost like challenging ourselves," Jadeja said. "There could have been dew later in the night. If we get caught in such a situation in a knockout match, we should know how to handle it."