'Not a fair comparison': Ex-cricketer gives a major verdict on Ravindra Jadeja ahead of WC

Team India won its first match of the Asia Cup 2023 against Nepal on Monday, September 4, 2023, after facing Pakistan in a match abandoned due to rain. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill single-handedly helped India triumph against Nepal, who made 230 runs in 48.2 overs. The match again being affected by rain, the overs were reduced to 23 during India’s innings, who won the match by chasing 147 runs in 20.1 overs (DLS method) without losing a single wicket.

3 things you need to know 

• India won the toss and decided to bowl 
• Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill completed their half-century
• India will face Pakistan on September 10, 2023

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India vs Nepal: Ravindra Jadeja was the star performer in the match 

In their spectacular match against the all-time winners, India, on Monday at the Asia Cup 2023, Nepal, the rookies, had an immediate impression. The debutants in the continental championship made a solid start during the opening powerplay against the much-favored opponents because of India's shaky fielding. At Pallekele, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja grabbed centre stage and showed off his bowling prowess after seamer Shardul Thakur struck first by dismissing opener Kushal Bhurtel for 38.

The master of spin, Jadeja, bowled Bhim Sharki (7) cleanly before removing Rohit Paudel, the captain of Nepal, in the twentieth over. After that, Jadeja eliminated Kushal Malla, severely undermining the prospects of the opposition. The Indian spinner Jadeja stood out as the best bowler in the rain-affected game at the Pallekele International Stadium, claiming 3 wickets and allowing only 40 runs in his 10 overs.

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India vs Nepal: Sanjay Manjrekar mmakes a huge statement on Ravindra Jadeja 

In light of Jadeja's incredible consistency in international cricket and as the ICC World Cup nears, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar made an important declaration about the star all-rounder. Manjrekar stated his opinion that superstar Jadeja has a good chance of participating in each game of the ICC World Cup. The former Indian cricketer acknowledged Jadeja as India's top pick for the coveted ICC competition in terms of spin bowling all-rounder. Talking to StarSports he said: 

There is a very good chance, it’s almost a certainty that he will play all the World Cup matches. India can’t do without him. Axar Patel will be there in the reserves but Jadeja will be the first-choice spin-bowling all-rounder. If the pitch is rough, if you have got a quality opposition, he will finish in 10 overs,

However, talking about his comparison with the former batting-all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, he said: 

“But the batting all-rounder we had in 2011, Yuvraj Singh. It's not fair to compare his batting with Jadeja. So I see him more as a bowling all-rounder with somebody who can be a threat at No. 7 or No.8. His white-ball career has changed completely in the last few years,” 

Manjrekar’s statements were recorded after Ravindra Jadeja accomplished another milestone for the Indian Cricket Team. He became the joint-highest wicket-taker for Team India in the Asia Cup along with Irfan Pathan, both the legends have taken 22 wickets each in the ODI edition of the following continental tournament. The spinning all-rounder will look to break the following record in the upcoming clash against Pakistan on September 10, 2023.