‘The rockstar’ - Graeme Swann brands Ravindra Jadeja as X-factor player ahead of high-octane World Cup final clash

The stage is set for the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 as India and Australia will take centre stage at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, November 19. As the high-octane clash approaches, both sides will be keen on putting in their best performances and getting their hands on the coveted title.

There could be many performances that could stand out in the ODI World Cup 2023, and former English cricketer Graeme Swann came forward to talk of the same and opined that ace Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja could be a stand-out performer for the Indian team in the summit clash and could prove to be an X-factor.

"I am always going to look for the X-factor player, the rockstar, and that has to be Ravindra Jadeja. He has had a fairly quiet backend to this World Cup, mostly because the batting order hasn't really given him anything to do," Swann told CNN News 18.

I always look for big-time players: Swann

Furthermore, Swann pointed out Jadeja’s performance in the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 and talked of how he won the title for Chennai Super Kings in the final.

"I always look for big-time players, players when the pressure is on in the heat of the battle, times when even the world's best fail, Jadeja absolutely lives for those occasions. Just look at the IPL last year; wins the whole IPL off the last two balls, a six and a four,” Swann said. 

Having scored 111 runs and 16 wickets in 10 matches, Jadeja has been quite impactful for India in the World Cup, showcasing his skills with both the bat and the ball, and it could be interesting to see how the ace player performs in the final of the ODI World Cup 2023.

The Indian team is yet to lose a game in the marquee tournament and have put in marvellous performances so far. On other hand, the Aussies got off to a rocky start to the competition but have managed to turn it around and make it to the final.