Jadeja is back with a bang

Tribune News Service

Mohali, November 7

Ravindra Jadeja couldn’t have hoped for a better comeback. Coming back into the Test side after a while, the Saurashtra all-rounder turned in an impressive all-round performance — he scored crucial 38 runs in the first innings to help India reach the 200-run mark and picked up eight wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings, to play a pivotal role in India’s victory.

The South African batsmen just couldn’t fathom which of his balls were turning and which weren’t right through the match. As a result, he foxed many batsmen with the ones that came in with the arm. “The ball was turning but still it wasn’t like we just turned up, bowled and got wickets. We all bowled well. It takes effort, everybody in the team put in that effort,” he said.

In the past, Jadeja has been often been criticised, ridiculed too, for his inability to replicate his monumental feats achieved in the domestic cricket at the international level. He has scored triple hundreds in domestic circuit and, this time, he had picked up a mindboggling 37 wickets in the first three Ranji Trophy games. Coming into the Test match, he was aware of the expectations people would have of him after being almost unplayable in the Ranji Trophy. “I had to do well for India too. I couldn’t have relaxed because people tend to think that I am good enough for domestic cricket alone,” said Jadeja. “I was worried about it, and wanted to do well at international level.” 

He, of course, did well enough to earn the man of the match award and impress his skipper.  “I am happy for him. People with all-round ability are hard to find, it is just a matter of him keeping his mental strength, and he can be an asset for India in the future,” said Virat Kohli.

With the tracks likely to offer similar assistance to the spinners in the remaining three Test matches, Jadeja has a good opportunity at his hand to excel and establish himself as an all-rounder in the side.

8-76Jadeja's bowling figures in this match. It’s his best in the 13 Tests he has played, bettering 7/98 against Australia in Delhi in 2013. 

19Wickets taken by India's spinners in this Test. It’s just the ninth occasion when they have taken 19 or all 20 wickets in a Test. Thrice the Indian spinners have taken all the 20 wickets in a Test. 

Duminy, Morkel set to return, Steyn doubtful 

South Africa expect to have all-rounder JP Duminy and fast bowler Morne Morkel back for the second Test but will assess the fitness of leading paceman Dale Steyn on Thursday. 

If South Africa can get all three back for the second Test, the visitors will pose a much bigger challenge to the hosts.