A few years ago, Jadeja used to be that player who bowled well and batted a bit when it comes to the national team. He gave the comfort cushion for the team, someone who can play the second fiddle when the star players were batting at the other end. Nevertheless, he was always a match-winner. He had that defensive skills, can bat on any sticky surface, returned home with an excellent economy rate even on a flatter pitch. What goes without telling is, he was always a gun-fielder.
Simply put: He used to be that chocolate we got from the shop keeper in the grocery store when didn’t have the exact change. Of course, we loved that chocolate, who doesn’t? But again, it wasn’t the one we were shopping for.
With time, Jadeja improved. With time, he began to be the main man. He knew his role, he knew how to carry his form from domestic cricket into international cricket. From being the chocolate we got in exchange for change, he changed to become that backup meal. The one our parents had at home in case we didn’t like the one they had prepared. If Super Kings were the Suryavamsam, he was that idly upma.
Now, most of us usually crave those luxury meals. Those we cannot usually have at home. Those we order online. These meals don’t show up daily at our house but glamourous and had all our attention. Still, they are the ones we crave for because it changes our day, the mood on a particular day. Say, Russell.
Jadeja is no Russell or someone like Pollard. He was different. He consistent improved and was consistent, more than the other two.
A few years later, Jadeja 2.0 took over.
This Jadeja 2.0 is more matured. He can bat at the top, score runs and can dominate the innings instead of being someone else’s shadow. His bowling has always been the same and gets his reward for keep things simple and straight. With Jadeja, he doesn’t spin the ball much. More than the spin, the illusion of the spin gives him the wickets.
Soon, from that idly upma, Jadeja became our favourite dish which isn’t luxury but one of those kinds. The one we can have all day, all three times. The one which is our go-to when we are having a bad day. The one meal which is always there to lifts us. The one that fills our stomach.
With time, Jadeja supposed to grow old. He is supposed to feel weak. He isn’t in his 20s anymore but Jadeja is a rockstar, a warrior. Rockstars never grow old. They just keep getting better with time. Jadeja did too. Warriors never fail. Jadeja rarely.
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Was today his best?
There is a yes and there is a no. There are days where he bowls well than he did today and returned home with poor figures. There are days where he felt more in the zone but returned with a lesser score. When today is your day, it is really is your day, they say and Jadeja just had one of those.
Today was just like a perfect kind of the first date one can ever imagine. It had everything right from the favourite place to fabulous food. Now, the date had gone well. They told goodbye. He acknowledged that he loved the date as well and had promised to call back. Of course, he has the phone number. He knows to dial again but will he? Can he repeat the date? Can he top this date?
Well, only time will tell.
