Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, who created a storm by calling Ravindra Jadeja a 'bits and pieces cricketer' heaped praise on the all-rounder after India's semifinal exit from the 2019 World Cup.
In the first semifinal against New Zealand, Jadeja played a blinder of an innings in a lost cause and Manjrekar, who was critical of the Saurashtra all-rounder, accepted that he was taken aback by the performance.
"By bits and pieces, he has completely ripped me apart today. By sheer brilliance, he has proved me wrong on all fronts. But this is not the Ravindra Jadeja we have seen very often," Manjrekar was quoted as saying to ICC media.
"In the last 40 innings, his highest score has been around 33. But, today he was brilliant. Economical with the ball and the familiar celebration you see more in Test matches with him," Manjrekar added.
Jadeja walked in when India was reeling in chase of 240 and injected hope of a win with a brilliant 59-ball 77.
Jadeja along with MS Dhoni forged a partnership of 116 runs for the seventh wicket but his dismissal saw India lose the match by 18 runs.
Earlier, Manjrekar was critical of Jadeja and in an interview said that he was 'not a bi fan of bits and pieces players like Jadeja.'
Jadeja on his part didn't take the criticism lightly and in a tweet said that he has played twice the number of matches than Manjrekar.
During the semifinal, Jadeja bowled economically and took a wicket apart from effecting a run-out.
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