In a pivotal moment during the ongoing third Test between India and England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja etched his name in the record books by dismissing England captain Ben Stokes, marking his 200th Test wicket on Indian soil. This achievement places him in an elite group of players alongside Anil Kumble (350), Ravichandran Ashwin (347), Harbhajan Singh (265), and Kapil Dev (219).
Jadeja’s breakthrough came after the Lunch session on Day 3 when he induced Ben Stokes into playing a big shot, leading to a mistimed stroke caught comfortably by Jasprit Bumrah at long on. Subsequently, Jadeja secured his 201st Test wicket in India by dismissing Tom Hartley, further tightening the grip on England.
#TeamIndia snag wickets for dessert 🍰 right after Lunch! 👌#INDvENG #JioCinemaSports #BazBowled #IDFCFirstBankTestSeries pic.twitter.com/AsabZXcy6S
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 17, 2024
The 35-year-old all-rounder, currently ranked as the number 1 all-rounder in Test cricket, has been in outstanding form in his home ground of Rajkot. In the first innings, he showcased his prowess with the bat by scoring his fourth Test century, amassing 112 runs off 125 deliveries, including nine boundaries and two sixes.
ALSO READ: Ravichandran Ashwin Responds To Alastair Cook’s Accusations With A Candid Reply
Jadeja’s century played a crucial role in rescuing India from a precarious position, coming in to bat when the team was struggling at 33 for 3 in just 8.5 overs. Promoted to the number 5 spot, he formed a remarkable 201-run partnership with captain Rohit Sharma, steering India out of trouble and asserting control over the match.
Following Rohit’s departure after an impressive 131-run knock, Jadeja continued to exhibit his all-round capabilities by forging another vital partnership with debutant Sarfaraz Khan. This collaboration saw Sarfaraz achieve his maiden half-century. However, a mix-up between Jadeja and Sarfaraz led to the latter being run-out for 62 runs, concluding their influential 77-run partnership.
ALSO READ: Harbhajan Singh Expresses Support And Prayers For Ashwin Amidst Family Emergency
Jadeja, despite the unfortunate dismissal of Sarfaraz, completed his fourth Test century. Notably, he surpassed former India captain Sourav Ganguly to become the 15th Indian to accumulate 1000 Test runs against England, adding another feather to his illustrious cap. With a total of 282 wickets and 3,005 runs in 70 Test matches, Ravindra Jadeja continues to be a linchpin for the Indian cricket team.
