Ravindra Jadeja expressed his delight that his spin partner, R Ashwin, is on the brink of a historic achievement, set to complete 500 Test wickets in their hometown of Rajkot during the 3rd Test between India and England. In a press conference ahead of the crucial match, Jadeja lauded Ashwin’s prowess while downplaying concerns over his recent form.
Despite starting the series with 490 wickets, Ashwin added just 9 more across the first two Tests. In the initial encounter, Ashwin claimed 6 wickets, but faced aggression from England’s batters, conceding over 4 runs per over in Hyderabad’s second innings.
This led to England staging a remarkable comeback from a 190-run deficit, securing a 1-0 series lead. Notably, it marked the first instance in Test cricket at home where both Ashwin and Jadeja conceded over 100 runs together in an innings.
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Although Ashwin remained wicketless in the first innings of the Vizag Test, he regained form with a crucial 3-wicket haul in the second innings, aiding India’s 106-run victory to level the series 1-1. With the Rajkot pitch favoring batsmen initially, Ashwin’s pursuit of 500 wickets holds significance for India’s spin arsenal.
Local lad @imjadeja has a special wish for @ashwinravi99, who is one wicket away from 5⃣0⃣0⃣ Test wickets 😃👌#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/zGn1B8IZrb
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 14, 2024
“He will achieve it here, no doubt. I am genuinely happy for him; we have shared the field for years,” remarked Ravindra Jadeja, expressing confidence in Ashwin’s milestone. “While I anticipated he would reach it in the first test, destiny dictates he attains it here, in my hometown,” he added.
Ravichandran Ashwin is poised to become only the second Indian bowler to reach 500 Test wickets, trailing only Anil Kumble’s 619. His feat would place him among an elite group of 9 bowlers worldwide. As Ashwin prepares for his 98th Test appearance, Jadeja’s return after a hamstring injury in the second Test is a significant boost for Team India, already grappling with injuries to KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Virat Kohli.
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Jadeja’s versatility, demonstrated by his Test century at his home ground, adds value not only to India’s bowling strategy but also augments their batting lineup. Having completed a full training session on Tuesday, Jadeja’s readiness promises a formidable performance in the upcoming Rajkot Test.
