IPL 2023: A breakthrough season as a bowler – Aakash Chopra hails Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling performance

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra lauded Ravindra Jadeja’s impressive bowling performance for Chennai Super Kings in Indian Premier League 2023. Jadeja played a crucial role in taking CSK to their fifth title after they defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets (DLS method) at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

The left-hander smashed a six and a four on the last two balls against Mohit Sharma when 10 runs were required to take his team to an emphatic win. Meanwhile, Jadeja scalped 20 wickets in 16 matches of IPL 2023 at an average of 21.44 and an economy rate of 7.56 to finish as the second-highest wicket-taker for CSK.

Ergo, he played an instrumental role in taking CSK to glory as he delivered with the ball, especially while playing at home. Jadeja also became the first left-arm spinner to take 150 wickets in the IPL during the season.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “Jaddu’s magic. A breakthrough season as a bowler, not as a batter. You wouldn’t have seen such effective bowling from Jaddu in the last four-five years in the IPL. You would have seen Jaddu doing very well otherwise, but in the IPL we used to talk about his middling performances but this was Jaddu’s year.”

The renowned commentator also showered praise on CSK captain MS Dhoni for getting the best out of the left-arm orthodox spinner.

“I felt the captain had an agenda that he will get the best out of him and make him the best player he can ever be. He went with that commitment – when and how much to bowl and batting him above himself.”

Chopra added Matheesha Pathirana added power to the weak bowling line-up of CSK. The Sri Lankan pacer was able to deliver the goods in the death overs as he scalped 19 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 19.52 and an economy rate of eight.

“They unleashed a weapon called Matheesha Pathirana. The start was not good, this team’s bowling was slightly weak. Then Sisanda Magala and Deepak Chahar got injured, Dwaine Pretorius was not getting fit in the scheme of things, and Tushar Deshpande was picking up wickets but was extremely expensive.”

Chennai was able to come up with a collective effort and thus they reaped rewards for the same.