Ravindra Jadeja delivered a crucial breakthrough in the second ODI between India and England at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday, February 9, dismissing Joe Root yet again. Root, who was looking set on 69 off 72 balls, attempted to go over extra cover but ended up handing a simple catch to Virat Kohli at long-off.
The dismissal came in the 43rd over when Jadeja deceived Root with a slower delivery. The former England skipper, trying to create room for an expansive shot, mistimed it straight into Kohli’s hands. This marked the fifth time Jadeja had dismissed Root in ODIs, having trapped him LBW in the series opener.
With Root’s departure, England lost half their side for 248. At the time of writing, the visitors were 272/7.
Jadeja Shines with the Ball in Cuttack
Jadeja continued to impress with his all-round skills, finishing with outstanding figures of 3/35 in his 10-over spell. Apart from Root, he also dismissed Ben Duckett and Jamie Overton, adding to his impactful performances in the series. In the first ODI, he had returned figures of 3/26, playing a key role in India’s four-wicket victory that gave them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The 36-year-old all-rounder also reached a significant milestone during the match, becoming the fifth Indian bowler to take 600 international wickets. This game marked his first 50-over appearance since the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
Jadeja’s contributions with both bat and ball make him a crucial asset for India, especially with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on the horizon. India will kick off their campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday, February 20.
England Elect to Bowl First in Mumbai as Dube Clears Concussion Protocol.
Ashwin Praises Jadeja’s Underrated Brilliance
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently heaped praise on Jadeja for his consistent performances. Speaking on his YouTube show ‘Ash ki Baat’ (via News18), Ashwin criticized the media for not giving Jadeja enough credit.
“Our media fails to appreciate when a player does well. Whenever we lose, everyone becomes a villain. Jadeja dismissed Joe Root in the first ODI. He always goes under the radar. He is a ‘Jackpot Django’—a +10 fielder, a reliable bowler, and a dependable batter under pressure. We don’t give him enough credit.”
With Jadeja firing on all cylinders, India will be hopeful of sealing the series and gaining momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy.
