During the Sunday encounter between India and Australia for the Cricket World Cup 2023 in Chennai, Ravindra Jadeja pulled off an incredible miracle to dismiss Steve Smith.
Jadeja chose to assault Smith with a back-of-the-length delivery despite the fact that he appeared to be in good form. After landing roughly along the leg-stump line, the ball abruptly turned to strike the top of the off-stump. The Australian batter did follow the delivery’s line, but the late variation utterly caught him off guard. Smith was rendered speechless by the delivery, and even Virat Kohli was taken aback by the ball’s movement, giving India the vital wicket.
Jadeja broke a crucial partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith that extended to 36 in the 28th over with a ripper. Steve Smith, who was looking good in the middle at 46, was undone by a classical left-arm spinner’s delivery that pitched on the middle stump line and hit the top of the off-stump. Smith looked clueless as he acknowledged the genius of Jadeja with a bewildered look on his face.
Jadeja compared the Chepauk pitch to a Test match wicket where some balls twisted and others went straight.
“The way I started the first over, the ball was stopping after it pitched. The wicket looked dry in the afternoon when it was hot. I thought the stump line would be good as some balls would dart in while some would turn. So, it won’t be easy for the batsman.
“My plan was to bowl on the stump and luckily the ball to Smith turned more. I thought this was a typical Test match wicket. We should not do any experiment and bowl stump-to-stump.”
“My plan was to bowl on the stump and luckily the ball to Smith turned more. I thought this was a typical Test match wicket. We should not do any experiment and bowl stump-to-stump.”
The all-rounder was also asked how different was his role from that of Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav. He had the biggest smile on his face on hearing the question.
“There is no role. Only role is to get as many wickets as quickly as we could.”
Jadeja then went on to describe the wicket.
“On that wicket, all the three (spinners) would have thought the same: “I should get more wickets”. And if that’s in your mind, it’s not wrong. If everyone is thinking like this, then the opposition team will be bowled out quickly.” He did agree that Smith’s dismissal was the turning point.
“I think that was the turning point…a wicket like that of Steve Smith. From there onwards, it was not easy to come and rotate the strike for the new batters.
“So from there, they were 110 for 2 and became 199 all-out. I know the conditions in Chennai. I have been playing here (for CSK) since 10-11 years. I know how the conditions in this ground work. I enjoyed and whatever I contribute to the team I always feel happy.”
Jadeja asserted
Ravindra Jadeja joins Harbhajan Singh in unique list after decimating Australia in Chennai
Ravindra Jadeja did not need much time to warm up to the World Cup 2023 campaign as he was on the mark in India’s World Cup 2023 opener against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, October 8. Jadeja, playing at his IPL home venue, ran through the Australian middle-order after Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to field at Chepauk.
On a hot day and on a dry pitch, Ravindra Jadeja worked his magic as he was spot on with the ball, much like the rest of his teammates. Jadeja was miserly and also picked wickets in the middle overs, denting Australia’s progress.
Much to the surprise of quite a few, Australia did not look to push on as they opted for a cautious approach on a pitch where run-scoring was not easy.
Jadeja was making the most of the conditions in Chennai as a puff of dust was seen every time he had more revs on the ball. In the very next over, Jadeja got the big wicket of Marnus Labuschagne who gave it away while trying to play a sweep. He then trapped Alex Carey LBW for 0, leaving Australia reeling in the middle overs.
Jadeja finished with figures of 28 for 3 after completing his quota of 10 overs, out of which 2 were maidens.
With the 3 wickets, Jadeja became only the 3rd bowler in the history of the sport to pick up more than 100 wickets in international cricket against Australia.
MOST WICKETS VS AUSTRALIA
- Stuart Broad 128 in 41 matches. 6 5-wicket haul
- Harbhajan Singh – 105 in 37 matches. 7 5-wicket hauls
- Ravindra Jadeja – 102 in 40 matches. 5-wicket hauls
India spinners were on fire as the 2011 champions sent a warning notice to the rest of the teams. While Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav and R Ashwin joined the party with 3 wickets between them. Kuldeep got the crucial wicket of Glenn Maxwell while Jasprit Bumrah was also on the board, picking up Mitchell Marsh for 0.
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