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Ravindra Jadeja produced one of the best performances of his career so far with a haul of 5/33 that helped India bundle South Africa out for a paltry 83 in their ICC World Cup match in Kolkata on Sunday.
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Jadeja registered his maiden World Cup five-for as South Africa were shot out for their lowest total in the showpiece event after being set a challenging 327 to win as the dominant Indians won by a massive 243 runs to collect their eighth win in as many outings.
Jadeja’s five-for as well as his unbeaten 29 off 15 balls, however, was overshadowed by a historic century by Virat Kohli. The former India captain struck an unbeaten 101 in tough batting conditions at the Eden Gardens to help India post 326/5, and was later adjudged the Player of the Match for his effort. Kohli equalled batting legend Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record for most ODI centuries with his 49th ton in the process.
Jadeja, however, insisted Kohli deserved all the credit for India’s lopsided win for batting the way he did despite the tricky conditions. The left-arm spinner added that the Eden pitch was offering more turn during the afternoon when India batted than it did later in the evening.
“I think this will be very special for Virat himself. It was a very tough pitch and at times, it seemed that even 260-270 looked par,” Jadeja said at post-match conference.
“He rotated the strike and at stage when runs dried up and their spinners were bowling well, to rotate strike and remain not out while taking score beyond 300, it takes effort,” he said.
The pitch, Jadeja believed, became easier for batting later as he tried to put Kohli’s ton in perspective.
“When they bowled, there was more help from the track, there was more turn on offer and wicket didn’t have bounce also. If you ask for my opinion, the pitch became easier for batting in the evening compared to afternoon, may be not easy but okay for batting.
“But in the afternoon, it was a slow turner. You couldn’t hit big shots. Credit how Virat handled their spinners. We always had an idea that Kolkata is a low-bounce track that aids spinners. We knew wicket would play slow.”
Skipper Rohit Sharma’s decision to bat first was a calculated one as Indian team wanted to assess how things may pan out if India play their semi-final in Kolkata and need to bowl under lights.
“We wanted to challenge ourselves, had we bowled at afternoon, we wouldn’t have given so many runs. We wanted to see how we could bowl if dew sets in and if knock-outs, if we get such a situation,” Jadeja said.
‘I always think like a captain’
If the only player, other than Rohit, who can make everyone laugh effortlessly is Jadeja, who with 110 impactful runs and 14 wickets, is actually doing in this edition what Yuvraj Singh did in 2011.
“From the first day, I think like a captain but it is another thing that I am not the one. As an all-rounder, scoring 30-35 runs and being a partnership breaker, that’s the role I have.”
“I always try to give an impactful performance. And I never take fielding for granted. I can also miss a catch, so I am always prepared, that if I get a catch, I don’t relax on the field. So, I just keep trying. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. But I keep trying,” he said.
For him, big wickets against Australia and South Africa and crucial runs against New Zealand matter a lot.
“My rhythm has been good in the last few games and I am happy that I am able to contribute for the team in important games. I am delivering with both bat and ball. I will be more confident about my own game in the coming matches.”
But he also admitted that Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj have made the job easier for him.
“Whatever track you play on, if fast bowlers are getting a couple of wickets upfront, it becomes easier for the spinner because the new batters can’t play shots straight up and spinner becomes more confident while varying speeds and using more subtle variations.
“So faster bowlers are giving 2-3 wickets or even more up-front. Hope we can continue like this in knock-outs.”
With inputs from PTI
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