Ravindra Jadeja may have frustrated Stuart Broad with his famous sword celebration but the former England pacer has also acknowledged just how difficult the Indian all-rounder was to handle on the field, he even went on to call Jadeja, England nightmare.
Ravindra Jadeja is known for celebrating his batting milestones by holding his bat like a sword. The celebration is linked to his belief that he comes from a royal lineage. However, Stuart Broad, who faced Jadeja several times during his England career, admitted that the celebration used to irritate him, particularly when Jadeja did it after scoring a half-century.
Speaking on a podcast, Stuart Broad recalled that he felt a 50 did not warrant such a big celebration. He even joked with Ravindra Jadeja on several occasions that scoring 50 was a fairly normal achievement for batters and suggested that the sword celebration would be more fitting after reaching a hundred.
Despite being annoyed by the celebration, Stuart Broad had plenty of respect for Jadeja’s performances against England. The Indian all-rounder has averaged more than 40 with the bat against England, scoring three centuries and 11 fifties.
Stuart Broad’s co-host, former England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, also praised 37-year-old Ravindra Jadeja. Jos Buttler described him as an extremely difficult player to face, particularly in India, and highlighted his ability to perform when matches were under pressure.
According to Jos Buttler, Ravindra Jadeja regularly stepped up when his team needed crucial runs, especially during tight situations. He also pointed out that Jadeja’s versatility made him even more valuable.
Ravindra Jadeja could sometimes be promoted to No. 5 when conditions required it, particularly when the ball was swinging. Jos Buttler felt that Jadeja was an underrated batter despite his impressive record and ability to contribute in different situations.
Stuart Broad further highlighted Ravindra Jadeja’s remarkable statistics. He said England’s dilemma over whether to select Jadeja or fellow India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was itself proof of how highly Jadeja was regarded.
The former England pacer noted that Ravindra Jadeja’s numbers were so impressive that England had to seriously consider their selection options whenever facing India. Interestingly, Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler later selected their top 10 all-rounders in world cricket, with Ravindra Jadeja making the list at No. 10.
So, while Ravindra Jadeja’s trademark sword celebration may have irritated Stuart Broad, his performances clearly earned the Indian all-rounder plenty of respect from the former England stars.
What do you think of Ravindra Jadeja’s sword celebration?
