In his first four years in ODIs, Jadeja managed only five half-centuries and about one wicket per game, but with India’s spin stocks sinking lower every series, he made his Test debut in the final Test against England in Nagpur in 2012. His fielding and batting made him an easy pick as the third spinner in home Tests, and in that role he finished with 24 wickets at 17.45 in his first full series, the 4-0 whitewash of Australia in 2013. Jadeja swiftly rose to become India’s second spinner and a reliable foil to R Ashwin. That status was cemented when he took 14 wickets in three home Tests against New Zealand in 2016-17, a ten-for (and 26 in all) against England in the series that followed, and another 25 in four Tests against Australia. He got his maiden Test hundred on his home ground, Rajkot, against West Indies in 2018. A year later, he became the fastest left-arm bowler to get to 200 wickets, in 44 Tests.
(source: gettyimages)