Ravindra Jadeja Hailed As Great All-Rounder After Test-Winning Exploits

Ravindra Jadeja was hailed Monday as one of the world's best all-rounders after his swashbuckling unbeaten 175 with the bat and nine-wicket haul with the ball propelled India to a first Test victory over Sri Lanka inside three days. The left-hander's match-defining knock in Mohali, his best in Tests, and figures of 5-41 and 4-46 with his left-arm spin saw Sri Lanka crushed by an innings and 222 runs on Sunday.

Former India pace bowler Irfan Pathan tweeted: "Best spin bowling all rounder? Certainly, no one comes close to @imjadeja at the moment!"

Best spin bowling all rounder? Certainly, no one comes close to @imjadeja at the moment!

New captain Rohit Sharma said that Jadeja gave balance to the team with his array of skills.

"To me he is one of the top all-rounders," Rohit said and added that he hoped to give him more batting opportunities.

Jadeja, 33, is currently third in the ICC rankings for Test all-rounders behind compatriot Ravichandran Ashwin and number one Jason Holder of the West Indies.

Back in 2008, Australian legend Shane Warne, who died suddenly on Friday aged 52, had called the rookie Jadeja a "rockstar" when they played together for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.

"We were just coming out of our U19s and to share the dressing room with Warne was a huge thing," Jadeja said, paying tribute to the leg-spinner who took 708 Test wickets. "He gave me a huge platform and post U19, it was a direct entry into the IPL."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted Sunday: "The 'Rockstar' as Warney named him is having some game in his memory... Fantastic."

The ‘Rockstar' as Warney named him is having some game in his memory … Fantastic @imjadeja