The Indian all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja revealed that he had planned to vary the pace of his deliveries and create angles since there was not much turn on offer during his four-wicket haul which helped the Indian team to reduce Australia to 338 on day two of the third Test in Sydney on Friday. Jadeja finished the first innings with figures of four for 62 in 18 overs besides getting rid of centurion Steve Smith with a brilliant direct hit.
Talking about his plans for Day 2, Jadeja said, “The idea was to create pressure as this wasn’t a wicket where you would get chance in every over. You can’t bowl all deliveries at the same pace on this wicket as there was no turn on offer. You had to mix and match and create angles.”
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Of late Jadeja has emerged as one of the crucial batsmen in the Indian team as he also made a crucial contribution of 57 in the second Test after a good run in the preceding limited-overs series. But for him, the focus has also been on producing all-round performances. Jadeja is batting at number seven in the series but won’t mind batting higher up the order.
Talking about the same, Ravindra Jadeja said, “The higher up the order I bat, I play with more responsibility and playing with a top-order batsman, you interact and gain confidence. About what we need to do and what we don’t need to do. Also, you get a lot of time to plan and set your innings as per the match situation. Initially, if I get start, then I play in a flow. It is good if I bat high up in the order.”
Jadeja also felt Australian batsmen, mainly Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, played him and R Ashwin better in the Syndey Test but the pitch also helped them. He also praised young teammate Shubman Gill, who scored his maiden Test fifty on Friday.
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Ravindra Jadeja explained, “He has the temperament to play a long innings. He got a good start today. He is showing good signs. Hopefully, he will have a long career.”
