Jonty Rhodes named Ravindra Jadeja as the best fielder in modern cricket, praising his versatility and quick reflexes.
Former South African cricketer and Pro Cricket League brand ambassador, Jonty Rhodes, has identified the best fielder in modern-day cricket, highlighting the skills of Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja as the top Indian fielders.
Rhodes, renowned as one of the greatest fielders in cricket history, praised Jadeja for his exceptional fielding ability and quick reflexes, which make him stand out on the field. In his assessment, Rhodes emphasized the evolution of fielding standards in modern cricket, which has become a crucial aspect of team performance across all formats. Unlike earlier eras where fielding prowess was limited to a few players, Rhodes believes that a strong fielding unit is now essential for the success of top cricketing sides.
Having mentored and guided younger players in fielding, Rhodes has been associated with several Indian Premier League (IPL) teams, including the Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants. During the Pro Cricket League trophy and jersey unveiling event, Rhodes stated, “Two of the players whom I have always admired as a fielder are Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja. They two are the best Indian fielders, but when I talk of modern cricket, the best fielder it is surely Ravindra Jadeja, whom you all fondly call Sir Jadeja.”
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Explaining his preference for Jadeja over Raina, the 55-year-old Rhodes highlighted Jadeja’s versatility on the field. “The reason why I consider him the best is because he can field at any position. You can place him at mid-wicket, long-on, or at short cover. He is so quick on the feet that the batter fears when the ball goes to him. So more than catching or throwing the ball, the things that matter in fielding is how quickly you reach to the ball. And that is where Jadeja is best,” Rhodes elaborated, as per IANS.
Meanwhile, Jadeja, along with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, announced his retirement from T20 internationals following India’s T20 World Cup victory in Barbados in June. While he continues to play in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test matches, Jadeja was rested during the ODI series against Sri Lanka. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has excluded Jadeja from the first round of the 2024-25 Duleep Trophy, releasing him from the Team B squad without a replacement.
Last Updated on August 31, 2024
