Ravindra Jadeja gets high praise from mentor, coach by Gaurav Gupta

While Amla was lampooned on the social media for his lack of judgement, the moment marked a stamp of triumph for 'Sir' Ravindra Jadeja. © AFP

It's a dismissal which best describes why he's so potent on a turning track. Hashim Amla's woes on a forgettable India tour were brought to the fore cruelly in the second innings of the first Test in Mohali. With South Africa battling to save the game, the skipper left a seemingly harmless delivery which crashed into his middle stump.While Amla was lampooned on the social media for his lack of judgement, the moment marked a stamp of triumph for 'Sir' Ravindra Jadeja.

On yet another comeback trail, this 26-year-old left-arm spinner has forged a terrific partnership with the in-form Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra, having taken 16 wickets in three Tests against the baffled Proteas at 12.06, with five for 21 being his best effort. There have been a couple of crucial cameos off his bat too which have mattered a lot in these low-scoring contests.

What makes Jadeja so dangerous on turners? Bowling on such wickets, after all, is an art too "He's unplayable on a turner. I've not seen a left-arm spinner in my career who won't bowl a single ball outside leg stump in his entire spell, but would keep firing it on the stumps," remarks former Saurashtra coach Debu Mitra, who's seen a fair bit of the man.

"He's the best left-arm spinner all-rounder that we have for these conditions. He's consistent and bowls with a low, flat trajectory , which doesn't give you room or time to hit the ball. In fact, as it happened with the SA batsmen he leaves you confused abouT whether to leave or play the ball If it doesn't turn and you leave it you meet Amla's fate.

His 'straighter' delivery is even more dangerous. And if it turns, you can easily edge it behind the wickets. He's economical, and can bowl long spells. It helps that he has a strong shoulder," feels former Saurashtra batsman turned-coach Shitanshu Kotak, who's seen him right from his Ranji debut days.

"There were six spinners on either side, but he was by far the best amongst all in all the games that he played for us this season," he adds.

"In these conditions, he's a sure-shot match-winner. And that's because he's accurate. He bowls side-on, which creates a difficult angle for the batsmen and plenty of doubts. His bowls at the quick air speed which is ideal for such wickets," praises former India leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani, who feels that Jadeja's presence has made Ashwin even more dangerous. 

"He has kept things tight and applied pressure from one end, which has allowed Ashwin to bowl more freely. Vice-versa, sometimes batsmen take a chance against Jadeja because they can't do so against Ashwin, and perish in the process. It's a perfect bowling partnership. With Amit Mishra in the mix too, you have the ideal variety to compliment the attack," he says.

More than the skills to succeed on a particular wicket, Jadeja's dream comeback also talks about a steely resolve to win back his place in the side. "He's a determined cricketer. He doesn't believe in giving interviews or playing up his chances in the press, which gets misconstrued as arrogance.Nor does he bother about how others are performing. Before the season, he told me `If I perform, I'm sure l will be in the Indian team,'" compliments Kotak.