Published: Nov 07, 2015, 06:57 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 07, 2015, 06:57 PM (IST)
It was inevitable. There are not many answers that batsmen can offer when Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin pose together as one of the most dangerous spin partnerships across formats. Jadeja and Ashwin have laid foundations for many wins for India in the past, and their brilliance was once again on display at Mohali. While Ashwin made a successful return after a lay-off due to injury, the other man, Jadeja had point to prove to himself, to the critics as well as the selectors. And he did exactly that, in some style. Live Cricket Scorecard: India vs South Africa 2015, 1st Test at Mohali
In a low-scoring Test at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium in Mohali, Jadeja contributed with 46 valuable runs and bagged eight wickets. He registered his third five-wicket haul in Test cricket as he bowled India to a crucial win, which would help them to assert more pressure on the South Africans in the remainder of the Test series. There were serious questions over Jadeja going into this game, but the all-rounder set everything straight with a terrific show. Photo Gallery: India vs South Africa, 1st Test 2015 at Mohali
The discipline and determination that Jadeja showed with the bat in India’s first innings was a delight for the Indian team. He did not throw his wicket, did not look to attack and batted with tremendous application, trying to spend time at the wicket. Jadeja faced as many as 92 balls during his innings of 38, which showed the all-rounder has rediscovered the importance of spending time at the wicket and putting a value to it.
Jadeja isn’t a big turner of the ball, but his probing line and lengths stifle the best of the batsmen. The South Africans, who were already cautious against the Indian spinners, fell to straight deliveries expecting turn as Jadeja made most of their confused mindset. The left-arm bowler also got turn on a wicket that was labelled ‘minefield’ by many.
The 26-year-old all-rounder was axed from the Indian Test side before the team’s tour of Bangladesh, as by then he had lost all the sheen and spunk that he had. Was it due to overkill of cricket or it was just another poor phase, it is not known. Jadeja utilised his time away from the national side wisely. He took ample amount of rest, and came back with his goals drilled in his mindset.
Jadeja’s all-round show at Mohali has certainly provided a shot in the arm to his dwindling fortunes. India will be playing lot of cricket at home with the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka and the ICC World T20 2016 lined up. It may be too far away from now, but the end of next year India play England and Australia. These teams have hunted the Indians with their fast bowling arsenal and tracks that support them. Worse, in 2012-13, England armed with a strong spin battalionbeat India 2-1 at home.Perhaps, the victory at Mohali against the top-ranked South Africa was a strong message to the cricket fraternity that India too can demolish the their opponents the same way. If Jadeja maintains the attitude he showed in the first Test, there is no doubt in the fact that he would play a very strong role in those series too.
(Devarchit Varma is senior writer with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)
