The Indian cricket team has over the years is known for its brilliance with bat and ball. It lacked a bit whenever the fielding department was considered. However, things started to change under Sourav Ganguly as he had players like Mohammad Kaif, Yuvraj Singh and Robin Singh in his side. After Ganguly, India’s fielding improved much more under MS Dhoni and former opening batsman Gautam Gambhir believes that Ravindra Jadeja is currently the best fielder in world cricket.
Speaking on Star Sports show, Cricket Connected, Gambhir explained why Jadeja is the best fielder in world cricket. “I think, in world cricket, there is no better fielder than Jadeja, an overall fielder. Maybe he doesn’t field at slip and gully, but no one is better than him in throwing.
“No one covers the outfield like him. Put him at point or cover; you can get him to field anywhere. No one has a safer pair of hands than him. Ravindra Jadeja probably is the best fielder in world cricket.”
Probably the only Indian player who can match Virat Kohli’s fitness levels, Jadeja displayed his skills when he leapfrogged his captain in an on-field race while chasing the ball during an ODI against West Indies in 2018. Jadeja hardly drops any chances, and his rocket arm is also quite famous. Hence, he stood above all for Gambhir.
But a considerable credit for Jadeja’s success also goes to captain Kohli as it was he who, along with the team management, made the ‘yo-yo fitness test’ compulsory for selection. Players who clear the test are eligible for selection while those who flunk the test are dropped.
In his career, Jadeja has taken 115 catches, and last year during the ODI World Cup, in just two matches, he saved 41 runs – 24 inside the circle and 17 in the outfield, which was the most by anyone in the tournament.
