Why Ravindra Jadeja Deserves a Test Recall

Ravindra Jadeja returned to the Indian Test squad for the first two Tests against South Africa. His return comes on the back of some superb domestic performances and his call-up is justified when one considers the numbers he has amassed in the 2015/16 Ranji Trophy season. (Ravindra Jadeja Returns to Test squad)

In two matches this year, Jadeja has picked 24 wickets at a staggering average of 8.25. With the bat, he has scored 149 runs at an average of 74.5. In short, he has been the one-man demolition army for Saurashtra this year. (Ravindra Jadeja in fray to be selected in Indian squad)

In his first match against Tripura, Jadeja got his team out of a hole when he smashed 91 and shared a 146-run stand with Sheldon Jackson to help his team recover from 94/4 to 307. (Ravindra Jadeja Shines Against Tripura)

Buoyed by his performance with the bat, Jadeja ripped the Tripura batting to shreds by picking up figures of 27.1-13-17-6 to bowl the opposition out for 103. He repeated the dose in the second innings by picking up 5/45 in 25 overs to skittle Tripura out for 86. His combined figures of 52.1-24-72-11 gave Saurashtra victory by an innings and 118-run victory. (Ravindra Jadeja Picks 13 Wickets Against Saurashtra)

In his second outing against Jharkhand, Jadeja became even more lethal. On a rank turner at the Madhavrao Scindia stadium in Rajkot, Jadeja bowled 19.1 overs and picked up 6/71 to bowl Jharkhand out for 168. He was the only batsman in the Saurashtra team to go past 50 and his knock made all the difference. Armed with a 37-run lead, Jadeja went one better and picked up 7/55 to bowl out the opposition for 103, thus setting up an eight-wicket win.

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- Ravindrasinh jadeja (@imjadeja) October 9, 2015

For Jadeja, this rich streak of form comes at a time when India are still searching for the bowling allrounder option. This is the time for him to capitalise and revive what has been a stop-start Test career.

Jadeja made his Test debut in 2012 against England in Nagpur and he started off decently. However, it was his performance with the ball during the Australia series in 2013 that promised great things. He exploited the conditions magnificently and accounted for Australian skipper Michael Clarke in five out of the six innings to finish with 24 wickets at an average of 17.45. His performance, combined with the brilliance of Ravichandran Ashwin, helped India whitewash Australia 4-0 for the first time.

His form with the bat has been patchy. Jadeja's only notable contribution was during the 2014 Lord's Test against England where his attacking 68 off 59 balls set the game up for India to achieve their first win at the venue after 28 years. However, his contributions with the bat have been poor and Jadeja will be looking to correct this aberration.

India will be hoping that Jadeja carries forward his Ranji form into the Test matches. His omission from the ODI squad after a poor run has made him stronger. India will be hoping that Ravindra Jadeja, version 2.0, is much improved than Sir Jadeja, Version 1.0.