"Don't Think He's Good Enough...": Former Australian star isn't convinced with Ravindra Jadeja's batting

Ravindra Jadeja isn't having a great season in the IPL this time. He has scored runs and picked up some wickets here and there but hasn't been consistent. Jadeja is being considered as one of the sure-shot picks for the T20 World Cup 2024 squad but CSK's decision to promote him up the order has not worked out for them till now. Former Australian cricket team star Tom Moody is not impressed by Jadeja's batting for Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing IPL 2024 and he said that although the all-rounder is a top spin option, he is not 'good enough' to bat at No. 7 for India in the T20 World Cup 2024. 

Read Also: Hardik Pandya is the only seam-bowling all-rounder option with Team India which makes him the front runner of getting selected in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad.

Is Jadeja good enough as a finisher?

Jadeja has scored 157 runs in 9 matches till now and his strike rate of 131.93 isn't that good for an all-rounder. He finished last season with 190 runs, striking at 142.85. He has batted higher up the order in this IPL at No. 4-5, unlike his usual No. 6 spot. The 35-year-old has failed to match those heights this time around. He picked 20 wickets in IPL 2023 and was the most successful bowler for CSK after Tushar Deshpande (21). He was also the star of the final against Gujarat Titans, hitting two boundaries in the last two deliveries to take the Super Kings to its fifth IPL title.

“I'd be taking Jadeja purely because I'm looking for the best left-arm spinning option. He's the best left-arm spinner in the country. In my eleven, he's not batting at No.7. I don't think he's good enough to bat seven in a World Cup side. He's proven that with his strike rate. You need an impact-type player batting at seven,” Tom Moody told Star Sports.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan also expressed his thoughts and said that playing Jadeja at No. 7 means that India will have to play a proper finisher in their ranks.

“This is what I'm really scared about when it comes to the World Cup. Look, my worry is with the T20 World Cup, we are pretty much sorted as far as the top-order batting is concerned. We pretty much sorted in the middle overs as well. If we're thinking Ravindra Jadeja is a number seven batter, you need a good finisher. His numbers are not that great as far as the strike rate is concerned at the international level," Irfan Pathan explained.

BCCI is expected to name India's 15-member squad by May 1.