Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has made a strong comeback in the game by bagging five wickets on the first day of the India vs Australia Test match of Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium. Jadeja was on a five-month layoff due to a knee injury during India’s Asia Cup campaign and made an excellent comeback to Test cricket. His 5/47 helped India bowl out the Aussies for 177 in the first innings.
Australia won the toss and decided to bat earlier in the game. But the decision turned out to be a disappointment for the side as India’s two fast bowlers claimed wickets of the openers inside the first three overs. David Warner and Usman Khawaja scored just a single run for the side. Then Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith tried hard to steady the ship and took the side a further with runs of 49 and 37 respectively.
In the second session, India came out with more strength and took 6 wickets with Ravindra Jadeja leading the attack dismissing Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw on consecutive deliveries.
Then R. Ashwin kicked off after getting his 450th Test wicket and it was a session that completely belonged to India.
Then Alex Carey and Peter Handscomb showed some fighting later as Alex Carey got 36 runs while Handscomb scored 31. Then Pat Cumins, the skipper never had a chance to score a two-digit and went out on 6. Both Todd Murphy and Nathan Lyon went out on duck.
In total, Australia got 177 runs in 63.5 overs in a 10-wicket loss.
Despite losing the toss, India were off to a perfect start, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammad Shami set the tone for the side. Later Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja ran through the visitor’s batting line-up.
India was excellent with the bat also. But they lost KL Rahul an over before the close of play. Skipper Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Aswin were on the crease and plenty of batting was still to come. Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 56 has given India a dominant position in the match.
Jadeja regarding his rehab at NCA
Ravindra Jadeja was in rehabilitation for a long period at National Cricket Academy (NCA) and he shared about his practice sessions at NCA at the post-match presentation.
“Being a left-arm spinner, if you get batter out caught behind or stumped, you always give credit to the ball. In Test match cricket, whatever wicket you take, you are happy with that. I was working hard on my bowling when I was in Bangalore at the NCA. I was bowling 10-12 hours every day and that helped me a lot. I was working on my rhythm because I knew that I have to play Test match and I have to bowl long spells,” Jadeja said.
It was Jadeja’s fourth five-wicket haul against the Aussies. The 34-year-old left-arm spinner has got his eleventh five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
“Very happy with the way I was bowling. I was enjoying my bowling. Playing after five months, playing Test cricket, it’s tough. I was prepared for it and I was working hard on my fitness as well as on my skills at NCA. I played a first-class game (Ranji) after a long time and I bowled almost 42 overs. It gave me a lot of confidence to come here and play a Test match. There was no bounce in the wicket, I was targeting the stump-to-stump line. The odd ball was spinning and the odd ball was going straight,” he added.
Jadeja has got a strong comeback in the game, which will surely be an advantage for the Indian side in the coming World Cup. There expected more from him in the coming matches.
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