Ravindra Jadeja on comeback five-for in first Test vs Australia
On his comeback in India’s Test whites for the first time since July 2022, Ravindra Jadeja returned with bowling figures of 22-8-47-5 in the first day of the Nagpur Test.
The 34-year-old all-rounder, who was also the leading wicket taker the last time Australia played a Test series in India, spilled the beans on his comeback to international cricket following an injury bout.
“Playing after 5 months, playing Test cricket, it’s tough,” Jadeja said on stumps at day one. “I was prepared for it and I was working hard on my fitness as well as on my skills at NCA. I played a first-class game (Ranji) after a long time and I bowled almost 42 overs. It gave me a lot of confidence to come here and play a Test match.”
That when @imjadeja let one through Steve Smith’s defence! 👌👌
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/SwTGoyHfZx #TeamIndia | #INDvAUS | @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/Lj5j7pHZi3
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 9, 2023
Jadeja further added that during his rehab, he would bowl for insane hours while he was at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore to be Test match fit.
“I was working hard on my bowling when I was in Bangalore at the NCA. I was bowling 10-12 hours everyday and that helped me a lot. I was working on my rhythm because I knew that I have to play Test match and I have to bowl long spells,” he said.
The left arm orthodox further spoke of the wicket at VCA Nagpur that had been a persent topic of discussion in the buildup to the first India-Australia Test.
“There was no bounce on the wicket, I was targeting the stump-to-stump line. The odd ball was spinning and the odd ball was going straight. Being a left-arm spinner, if you get batsmen out caught behind or stumped, you always give credit to the ball. In Test match cricket, whatever wicket you take, you are happy with that,” Jadeja said.
