The Indian star shunned his attacking instincts to bat patiently and help build a first innings lead in the third Test against England at Mohali. The 27-year-old took 170 deliveries to score 90, his highest individual score in Test cricket.
In the session just after lunch, though, with India already holding a healthy lead – Jadeja in what came as a surprising move decided to change gears. It all started with him slamming four fours in a single Chris Woakes over.
After the end of play on day three, Jadeja explained that he went on the attack because he wanted to unsettle the English bowlers.
“They were bowling boring lines. It was only outside the off stump, off-stump, off-stump and off-stump. I was not running out of time. In fact, I had enough time,” said Jadeja.
“I just thought ‘let’s disturb the bowler by going outside off-stump’. There were only two fielders on the leg-side. That’s what I was trying and luckily I got four boundaries in that over.”
First time in his Test career Ravindra Jadeja has batted over 100 balls in a Test inns
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 28, 2016
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Jadeja was eventually dismissed by leg-spinner Adil Rashid as he went for a big shot down the ground. The Saurashtra all-rounder mishit a wide delivery and was caught on the long-on boundary by Woakes.
Despite falling just 10 runs short of a maiden Test century, Jadeja is not disappointed by the manner in which he got out.
“The shot that I got out to is my pet shot. I can hit a six anytime with that shot. I had the confidence, but the ball came rather slow off the wicket and that’s why I didn’t get the required impact. I am not disappointed that I got out to a shot like that,” he said.
Speaking about his trademark celebration after reaching his half-century landmark, Jadeja remarked: “It’s a traditional Rajput style. I can’t bring a sword into the ground, so have to make do with the bat.”
Jadeja has three first-class triple centuries to his name, but he hasn’t quite delivered with the bat in Test cricket. Before the Mohali match, his Test batting average of 23.51 is testament to his underperformance as a batsman in the longest format of the game.
“It’s not that I consider myself as a batsman, I am a proper batsman. I’ve been scoring runs in first-class cricket. Of course this is my longest test knock but I knew I can play and pace my knock. I was not in a hurry. I knew once I settle, I can accelerate after 50-60-70 balls,” Jadeja added.
