IPL 2021: WATCH – Ravindra Jadeja equals T20 record with 37-run over off Harshal Patel

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been a much-improved power-hitter with the bat in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Jadeja was one of CSK’s sole bright spots in their otherwise mostly disappointing campaign in the last year’s edition of the IPL in UAE. The left-hand batsman scored 232 runs at an average of […]
 
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IPL 2021: WATCH – Ravindra Jadeja equals T20 record with 37-run over off Harshal Patel

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been a much-improved power-hitter with the bat in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Jadeja was one of CSK’s sole bright spots in their otherwise mostly disappointing campaign in the last year’s edition of the IPL in UAE. The left-hand batsman scored 232 runs at an average of 46.40 and strike-rate of 171.85.

Also ReadIPL 2021 | Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali’s destructive spells power CSK to a 45-run win against Rajasthan Royals

His rate of scoring in IPL 2020 was his best in the IPL history in one particular season and also significantly higher than his overall career strike-rate in international and domestic cricket.

Jadeja’s improvement can be attributed to a shift in mindset and an enhanced range against pace. He was always a handy lower-order batter against spin and medium-pace off aggressive lengths, something evident through his exploits in Tests. But in recent years, he has taken his game to the next level against express fast-bowling bowling off harder lengths and variations.

IPL 2021: WATCH – Ravindra Jadeja equals T20 record with 37-run over off Harshal Patel

A fine example of Ravindra Jadeja’s improved range and power-hitting came on Sunday (April 25) via CSK’s match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Mumbai. The left-hander, after a sedate beginning, unleashed his wrath on pacer Harshal Patel in the 20th over of the CSK innings.

IPL 2021: WATCH – Ravindra Jadeja equals T20 record with 37-run over off Harshal Patel

Ravindra Jadeja has been fantastic with the bat in last few years.

WATCH – Ravindra Jadeja equals IPL record with 37-run over off Harshal Patel

Equalling the record previously held by pacer Prashant Parameswaran, Patel conceded a jaw-dropping 37 runs off his over against Jadeja, who had made only 26 runs off his first 21 deliveries but ended with an unbeaten 62 off 28.

The over included as many as five sixes off the blade of Ravindra Jadeja as Patel succumbed to the pressure and completely lost his radar.

The first two deliveries were the case of Patel’s execution of the yorker going absolutely wrong, with Jadeja dispatching the first of the length balls to the wide long-on region and smashing the other to the mid-wicket.

Also ReadIPL 2021: “Don’t ask too much of MS Dhoni with the bat”, suggests Brian Lara to CSK

The troubles only mount for Patel from there on as he delivered a beamer above Jadeja’s waist-line, to which the batter gleefully accepted the invitation and hit him for another six through the on-side.

With the next delivery following the no-ball being a free-hit, Patel tried a slower bouncer. But there was no respite for him as Ravindra Jadeja picked the delivery quite early and kept his balance in check to perfectly time a pull shot for one more maximum.

One ball later, Patel went back to the yorker ploy. However, the paceman’s horror continued, with him only ending up delivering a full-toss in Ravindra Jadeja’s beautiful arc. The batter sent the ball over the boundary rope through his favourite mid-wicket region once again.

The sixth and final legal delivery of the over saw a bitter end to Patel’s misery, with another attempted yorker resulting in a length ball, which Jadeja found no issue in hitting through the on-side to ensure that his team reaches a daunting total of 191/4 in their allotted 20 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat first.