Ravindra Jadeja has been a standout performer on the turning surface at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, showcasing his spin-bowling prowess in the ongoing third and final Test between India and New Zealand. So far, he has claimed an impressive nine wickets, using the spin-friendly conditions to full advantage and causing relentless pressure on the visiting team.
On Day 2, Jadeja capped off a remarkable day by clean bowling New Zealand’s Matt Henry, sending the tourists to stumps at 171/9. Henry managed only 10 runs off 16 balls before Jadeja’s clever bowling outmanoeuvred him. In what became one of the highlights of the day, Jadeja used his skilful variation to bowl a slower delivery as suggested by Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
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He expertly drifted the ball in, enticing Matt Henry to play it toward the on-side, only for the ball to sharply spin away, passing his bat and knocking over the stumps. Ravindra Jadeja’s ability to read the game and adjust his pace on this spinning wicket is a testament to his experience and tactical awareness.
What a way to get the final wicket of the day 🙌
Make that 4⃣ for Ravindra Jadeja 👏👏
Scorecard – https://t.co/KNIvTEyxU7#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @imjadeja pic.twitter.com/r6sTQSHgYf
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 2, 2024
His day included the prized dismissals of Daryl Mitchell (21), Tom Blundell (4), and Ish Sodhi (8), adding to his tally and putting him on the brink of yet another five-wicket haul. Jadeja’s performance is a reminder of his value in India’s bowling arsenal, as his spin and control continuously destabilized New Zealand’s lineup.
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The match itself has been historic, with a staggering 29 wickets falling over the first two days—breaking Wankhede’s previous record of 25 wickets over the same period, set during a Test match between India and South Africa in 2000. This statistic underscores the challenging conditions and how bowlers on both sides have been able to exploit the surface’s unpredictable turn and bounce.
Though India may have already lost the series, they will now look to dismiss the final New Zealand batter early on Day 3 and chase down the target. With pride on the line and the possibility of securing 12 crucial points in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25, the team has ample motivation to end this series on a high note.
