‘If he is eating something different...': GT coach Ashish Nehra declares this Indian fielder better than Jonty Rhodes

Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach Ashish Nehra is heaped immense praise on Ravindra Jadeja and put him ahead of all the best fielders in the world till date. Ravindra Jadeja is widely acknowledged as one of the most accomplished all-round cricketers of the modern era. His proficiency extends beyond his batting and bowling abilities, as he is also an exceptional fielder. Jadeja's agility and anticipation in the field are remarkable, making it exceedingly uncommon for a ball to elude his grasp. Moreover, his catching prowess is second to none, with a consistent record of pouching catches that come his way.

GT coach and former Indian international cricketer Ashish Nehra, in a recent interaction with Star Sports, was prompted to name the best fielder in the history of cricket. Without hesitation, Nehra unequivocally chose Ravindra Jadeja for this distinction, highlighting the impact and consistent excellence of Jadeja's fielding skills.

“Ravindra Jadeja”, Nehra said.

The interviewer then went on to ask, “Then and now?”, to which Nehra said:

“I have seen a lot of big fielders, some are good in the outfield, some inside, like Jonty Rhodes, he is the best inside the circle. If you speak about all-round fielding, AB de Villiers’ name comes in, but even Andrew Symonds and Jadeja. but I would put Jadeja ahead of them. It's not because of his age. When he came in 2008-09 and now, he is still the same. It is his fitness, I don't know what he eats. If he is eating something different, he should tell us".

Besides his all-round brilliance, Ravindra Jadeja notched a massive milestone in Test cricket in 2021, becoming the fifth Indian and the fifth-fastest player overall to score 2000 runs and take 200 wickets. His contributions to India's success in ICC tournaments are also noteworthy. He was a key member of the Indian squad that won the Champions Trophy 2013 title, where he emerged as the leading wicket-taker. Moreover, he was part of the Indian team who clinched the T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025 title, showcasing his continued relevance across different formats.

Currently, Jadeja is busy participating in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 as a key member of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, CSK is facing a challenging season and currently occupy the bottom position in the IPL 2025 points table with only four points from seven matches, having registered two wins and five defeats. Adding to their woes, their regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament due to injury, resulting in MS Dhoni taking over the captaincy responsibilities.

Jadeja will next be seen in CSK's next match against Mumbai Indians on April 20 at the Wankhede stadium.