IND vs ENG: The swordsman vs The showman – Ravindra Jadeja or Ben Stokes, who stands taller?

Time of India

4 days ago

Ben Stokes (L) and Ravindra Jadeja (R) at the conclusion of the fourth Test in Manchester. (AP)
Four Tests later, the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy continues to find new ingredients to keep the pot boiling. This series has showcased two of the finest all-rounders of this generation,
Ben Stokes
and
Ravindra Jadeja
, at their very best.
One of the most talked-about moments came at Lord's, where a photo of Stokes hugging Jadeja went viral. It was a show of respect after Jadeja's valiant effort with the bat, even though India fell short and England took a 2-1 lead in the five match series.
But the story took a new turn at Old Trafford. With the match hanging in the balance, Stokes offered Jadeja the hand to call it a draw. Jadeja refused. Instead, he stood tall and produced a brilliant Test hundred, guiding India to safety from a near-impossible situation.
This time, it was Jadeja - and India - who came out on top.
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That handshake, or refusal to take one, sparked a furore. It was a sign of how much the contest meant to both players, and how their rivalry is built not just on mutual respect, but on fierce competitiveness.
Ben Stokes and Ravindra Jadeja are two of the finest all-rounders in modern cricket, but their strengths lie in very different areas.
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by Taboola
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Undo
One is a consistent performer who offers value in every match. The other is a player made for the biggest moments, the one who stands up when backs are against the wall.
Ben Stokes press conference: On handshake controversy, India fightback, his own fitness
Stokes has played more cricket overall. He has featured in 115 Tests, compared to Jadeja's 84. He has batted in 206 innings, while Jadeja has had 126. Naturally, Stokes has more runs with 7,032, while Jadeja has 3,824. Stokes also leads in centuries with 14 and has 35 fifties.
His highest score of 258 shows the kind of innings he can produce when he gets in.
However, Jadeja averages more with the bat. His Test batting average is 37.86, compared to Stokes' 35.7. Jadeja also brings far greater value with the ball. He has taken 330 wickets at an average of 25.07. Stokes has 230 wickets at 31.65. Jadeja has picked up 15 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket hauls. Stokes has five and zero, respectively, in those departments.
In recent years, Stokes has not bowled regularly because of recurring injury concerns. But in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against India, he has been the top pick among the England bowlers. Despite the fitness issues, he is the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets. At Lord's, he bowled a marathon 10-over spell that set the tone with control and aggression. At Old Trafford, he bowled through visible pain with one shoulder and pinned a well set KL Rahul, breaking a 188-run third wicket stand.
Ben Stokes took a fifer and scored a century during the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford. (AP)
Yet, even in a series where Stokes has produced some of his best work with the ball, Jadeja has outperformed him with the bat. Jadeja has scored 454 runs in this series compared to Stokes' 304. While Stokes holds the edge in wickets, Jadeja's overall contribution across both departments remains significant.
What makes Stokes such a unique competitor in world cricket is not just his numbers. It is his influence in high-pressure moments.
Whether it was the 2019 World Cup final at Lord's, the Headingley Ashes miracle that same year, or the 2022 T20 World Cup final, Stokes has been England's clutch player on the grandest stages.
Metric
Ben Stokes
Ravindra Jadeja
Tests Played
115
84
Innings Batted
206
126
Runs Scored
7,032
3,824
Batting Average
35.70
37.86
Centuries (100s)
14
5
Fifties (50s)
35
26
Highest Score
258
175*
Wickets Taken
230
330
Bowling Average
31.65
25.07
5-Wicket Hauls
5
15
10-Wicket Hauls
0
3
He may not be the most consistent batter or the most reliable bowler every time he takes the field, but in the defining moments of major contests, Stokes has stepped up. No wonder Virat Kohli once posted, "I wasn't joking about calling Ben Stokes the most competitive bloke I've played against."
Not because of his averages, but because of his impact when it matters the most.
Ravindra Jadeja celebrates after scoring a century on the final day of the fourth Test match between England and India at Old Trafford, Manchester. (AP)
Meanwhile, Jadeja is a cricketer you can count on day in, day out. He is consistent across formats, offers control with the ball, and has become a dependable batter in tough situations. But despite his excellence, Jadeja often goes under the radar. He does not always receive the same attention or praise as others in world cricket, even though his numbers stand up to the best.
R Ashwin recently pointed out that the media often fails to appreciate Jadeja's consistent performances. According to Ashwin, Jadeja only becomes a talking point when the team is not performing well, even though he quietly delivers in all departments time and again.
Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev also weighed in, stating that Jadeja is better than Stokes in terms of all-round value. Coming from someone who redefined the role, it speaks volumes.
Both are great in their own rights. If Stokes fuels inspiration with his bravado and delivers the knockout punches in crucial junctures, Jadeja is a swordsman, whose steel is getting sharper with age.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!