- By Namrata Vijay
- Sat, 31 Aug 2024 04:34 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Ex-South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes, who created an image of himself in his playing career with his brilliant fielding skills, chose the 35-year-old Ravindra Jadeja as the best fielder in modern-day cricket. Rhodes picked Ravindra Jadeja due to his versatility in fielding from any position.
“Two of the players I have always admired as a fielder are Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja. They two are the best Indian fielders, but when I talk of modern cricket, the best fielder is surely Ravindra Jadeja, whom you all fondly call Sir Jadeja,” Rhodes told reporters at the launch of the Pro Cricket League tournament in New Delhi.
“The reason why I consider him the best is because he can field at any position. You can place him at mid-wicket, long-on, or short cover. He is so quick on the feet that the batter fears when the ball goes to him. So more than catching or throwing the ball, the thing that matters in fielding is how quickly you reach the ball. And that is where Jadeja is best,” he revealed.
Jadeja, who debuted in 2009 against Sri Lanka in a 50-over match, has represented the country in 72 Test matches, 197 ODIs and 74 T20Is till now. He was part of the 2024 T20 World Cup winning squad, where he featured in eight matches, and just 24 hours after winning the title, he hung up his boots from the shortest format.
Although, he wasn't selected for the recently concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka but is expected to play a huge role in the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh.
The Men in Blue will lock horns with Bangladesh for a two-match Test series in September. The first match would be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and the second match would be held at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
Jadeja was also selected in the B squad for the 2024 Duleep Trophy but was later released earlier this week.