Ravindra Jadeja Remains The Go-To All-Rounder For India

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's skills in all three facets of the game were acknowledged again when he was picked in the India squad for the Test tour of England on return from injury. Jadeja was s

He missed the four Tests against England, in which Patel replaced him. He also missed the three-ODI and five-T20I series against England that followed the Tests.

The Indian Premier League (IPL), in which he represents Chennai Super Kings, provided him with his first set of competitive matches since the tour of Australia. He took six wickets, scored 131 runs, including a 62 not out in seven outings, and more importantly took eight catches when most other fielders were struggling to hold on to them due to dew and rustiness.

Jadeja's role as an all-rounder becomes even more important in England due to the absence of Hardik Pandya, who is not fit to a bowl and has not been picked in the Test squad.

Jadeja will be India's primary all-rounder in England and could get to play most matches. His seniority and experience make him important to youngsters like Washington Sundar and Axar Patel.

Sundar qualifies as an all-rounder, though a batting one while Patel doesn't at the Test level. Jadeja scores over Axar with his batting that he has developed over the last couple of years.

Jadeja's CSK and former India captain MS Dhoni, who has backed him a lot, underlined the Saurashtra all-rounder's importance, after an IPL match recently.

"Jaddu is somebody who can change the game on his own. In the last few years, we've seen a significant change in his batting and it's worth it to give him that extra bit of time, extra deliveries," said Dhoni.