"You can get him to do anything" - When Gautam Gambhir was mighty impressed by an Indian all-rounder's development

Team India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is undoubtedly one of the most versatile cricketers in the game. Having made his international debut in 2009, he has gone on to establish himself as one of the key components of the Indian side, especially in Test cricket. Apart from his bowling and batting skills, he's also considered one of the best fielders in the game.

There was never any doubt about his talent, but the 36-year-old didn't taste instant success at the top level. With experience, though, he has matured into one of the world's finest match-winners. Jadeja can win matches for Team India with the bat, ball and as a fielder as well.

During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia at home in early 2023, Jadeja achieved the rare double of 2,500 runs and 250 wickets in Test cricket. Speaking on Star Sports, Gautam Gambhir lauded the all-rounder while reflecting on his immense growth as a cricketer:

"Ravindra Jadeja is a complete package. He has all the basics a cricketer should have. He is athletic, has a repetitive action, can bat and is an amazing fielder. There is nothing Jadeja cannot do on the ground.

"Some players take time to get groomed, to become a finished product and Ravindra Jadeja is one of them. It is not that he set the stage on fire immediately after coming into the team. He had the talent, different captains gave him the confidence - MS Dhoni, then Virat Kohli and now Rohit Sharma is doing it," the current India head coach added.

While further praising the all-rounder, Gambhir described Jadeja as someone who can do anything on the cricket field and also opined that Indian cricket is lucky to have a versatile player like him.

"When you have a finished product like that now, you can get him to do anything, make him field anywhere, bowl him at any stage and bat at any number. How many such all-rounders are there in the world?," the former India batter said.

Jadeja is currently a part of the Indian team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The visitors are 2-1 down in the five-match series. The fifth and final Test is underway in Sydney.

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Ravindra Jadeja's stats in 2024

If we look at the seasoned all-rounder's performance in the year that just went by, the 36-year-old played 12 Test matches, claiming 48 wickets at an average of 24.29, with three five-fers. The left-hander also scored 527 runs with the willow at an average of 29.27, with one hundred and three fifties.

Jadeja played all eight matches during the T20 World Cup, but claimed only one wicket. With the bat, he scored 35 runs in five innings. The seasoned campaigner retired from T20Is after the ICC event and didn't play any ODIs in 2024.