Former India pacer and Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra has stirred excitement in cricketing circles with high praise for an Indian cricketer’s fielding prowess, going so far as to compare — and rate — him above legendary South African fielder Jonty Rhodes.
In a light-hearted yet emphatic statement during a recent media interaction, Nehra said, “If he is eating something different, he should tell us,” in reference to the player’s exceptional agility and reflexes on the field. Though Nehra did not name the cricketer explicitly in the viral clip, sources close to the team and fan speculation suggest he may have been referring to young sensation and fielding dynamo Ravindra Jadeja or emerging star Rinku Singh, both of whom have dazzled with their athleticism in the ongoing IPL 2025 season.
“Fielding standards in India have drastically improved over the years, but this guy is on another level,” Nehra said. “Even Jonty Rhodes would applaud him. His commitment, awareness, and anticipation are unreal.”
The remark comes amid an IPL season where several players have made headlines for spectacular catches, bullet throws, and acrobatic stops — raising the overall bar of fielding in Indian cricket. Social media has been abuzz with compilations and comparisons, with fans both celebrating Nehra’s comments and trying to decipher the unnamed cricketer.
Jonty Rhodes, widely regarded as the greatest fielder in cricket history, has also acknowledged India’s strides in fielding in recent years, particularly praising young players for their fitness and technique.
While Nehra’s comments may have been made in jest, they underline the remarkable evolution of Indian fielding — a department once considered a weak link, now becoming a point of pride.
Cricket fans eagerly await clarity on Nehra’s mystery man, but one thing is certain: the benchmark for fielding brilliance in Indian cricket has reached exciting new heights.
