Not Jonty Rhodes, Ashish Nehra names the best fielder in cricket, catch details

Ashish Nehra, the former Indian pacer known for his sharp swing bowling and sense of humour, has had a long and respected career in Indian cricket. After retiring from international cricket in 2017, Nehra took up coaching and is currently the head coach of Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL.

With years of experience as both a player and coach, Nehra has seen some of the best in world cricket, which is why his recent comment on fielding turned heads.

Not Jonty Rhodes, Ashish Nehra names the best fielder in cricket, catch details

Speaking to Star Sports, Nehra was asked to name the best fielder in cricket history. Without skipping a beat, he replied, “Ravindra Jadeja.”

Many expected names like Jonty Rhodes or AB de Villiers to be at the top, but Nehra explained his choice in detail. “I have seen a lot of big fielders,” he said. “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.”

Nehra also praised Jadeja’s unbelievable consistency over the years, saying, “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!”

Ravindra Jadeja is truly a three-dimensional cricketer. Regarded as one of the best all-rounders in modern-day cricket, his value isn’t limited to just batting or bowling.

On the field, he is a live wire, stopping boundaries, taking stunning catches, and creating run-outs from nowhere. At 36, his athleticism still surprises fans and players alike. You’ll rarely see a ball slip past him or a catch go down when he’s around.

Apart from his fielding brilliance, Jadeja also boasts an impressive record with both bat and ball. He was the fifth Indian and fifth-fastest cricketer to score 2000 runs and take 200 wickets in Test cricket, achieving the feat in 2021.

He played a key role in India’s 2013 Champions Trophy win, finishing as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker. More recently, he was part of India’s triumphant squads in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Jadeja was last seen playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025. CSK finished the season as the bottom of the table, which is their worst campaign in their history.