Top 5 all-rounders who can replace Ravindra Jadeja in the Indian team

Rajasthan Royals’ Deepak Hooda

Deepak Hooda

A key performer for the U-19 side, the Haryana-born power-hitter who plies his trade for Baroda at the domestic level first came into the limelight with his match-winning 25-ball 54 against the Delhi Daredevils in the current edition of the IPL.

Hooda who impressed one and all with his clean hitting during the current edition of the IPL has confessed that Kevin Pietersen is his role model.

"Kevin Pietersen is my inspiration when it comes to batting because he also is an attacking batsman and loves to play big shots. My role in the team is also to play big shots and score quickly whenever the situation arises like I have done in a few games this season. I also practise my big shots in the nets."

Hooda who did not play a single match for the Royals in the 2014 edition of the IPL has emphasised on the importance it being a stiff but fruitful learning curve for him under the mentorship of the likes of Dravid and Upton.

"Last season I didn't get to play a single match but I used to speak to the coaches and support staff on how to develop my game. But since last season, I was mentally prepared and was waiting for the opportunity that would come my way. You learn a lot from someone like Rahul Dravid. I have spoken to him on things like how to bat in certain situations, how to handle pressure situations and lot of other things related to my batting. I always love to go up to him and have a chat about batting. I also discuss a lot with Paddy Upton. Captain Shane Watson constantly inspires me and tells me to keep playing my shots. Even when I am not doing well, the captain and coaches come and motivate me so I am loving being part of the Rajasthan Royals where I am learning a lot."

Hooda who offered the late thrust in the batting order and won Rajasthan Royals quite a few matches with the bat this season, is also a more than capable off-break bowler. In the opening match of the ICC CWC 2014, he bowled his team for victory claiming 5 for 41. Though he was given very few opportunities to bowl by the Royals in the IPL, he was always quick to shoulder the responsibility and come away with economical figures.

With the ICC World T20 around the corner, Hooda definitely deserves a look in for his brilliant power-hitting down the order.

---

Rishi Dhawan

Rishi Dhawan had a brilliant 2013-14 Ranji Trophy season scoring 435 runs and claiming 49 wickets, which made him the highest wicket-taker in that season. Though he lost out to Parvez Rasool for the Lala Amarnath best all-rounder's award, he was honoured with the Madhavrao Scindia Award for his achievement. This inspired King XI Punjab to buy him in 2014 for a sum of 3 crores which made him the second most expensive uncapped player in the IPL after Karn Sharma.

Made captain of the Himachal Pradesh at the young age of 24, Rishi Dhawan is an accurate bowler who bowls an accurate length and also swings the ball. He had started his career as an opening batsman and scored 338 runs in the Cooch Behar U-19 trophy on his way to being named BCCI U-19 Cricketer of the Year in 2008.

Representing India A in a match against Australia A, Dhawan had scored a match-winning 56 not out stitching together an impressive partnership with Axar Patel. In IPL 2014, Dhawan took 13 wickets in 13 matches with an impressive economy of 7.71. He also played many crucial knocks for his franchise and was considered by many to be an automatic choice for the number seven slot for India in the World Cup because of his ability to swing the ball.

He was, however, a surprise exclusion from the list of 30 probables for the World Cup as the selectors favoured Stuart Binny ahead of him. More surprising was the fact that the selectors chose seven spinners and left out Rishi Dhawan who could have been the perfect bowling all-rounder on the fast, seaming wickets in Australia and New Zealand.

His rather unexpected exclusion from the squad seems to have left Dhawan demoralised and that could have led to his dip in form in the current edition of the IPL. Dhawan failed to make a mark in the few opportunities he got and the pace trio of Sandeep Sharma, Anureet Singh and Mitchell Johnson was often favoured ahead of him.

His abysmal form with the bat compounded his problems which Dhawan was quick to recognise: "If you see, I play as an allrounder. I need to score runs if I've to graduate," he tells Wisden India. "I don't think I've left any stone unturned when it comes to getting wickets, but I need to improve on my batting. I'm trying to work on my batting."

The lanky all-rounder who boasts of a career-best of 7-93 on a placid wicket against Tripura at the domestic level, is however optimistic of turning things around thanks to the advice he is getting from the international stars and his coach.

"One of the things that helped me," he says, "is that they are always open to interactions. They keep telling me my mistakes in the net sessions or during the match. Sanjay Bangar sir has helped me a lot. Spending two months with him helped me understand my game in a better way. Whatever I've learnt from him, I want to carry that forward now."

We sincerely hope that Rishi Dhawan does turn things around pretty fast because he can be the fast bowling all-rounder India have been long searching for ever since Irfan Pathan went out of favour.