All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja feels Australian batters were thinking about the rough on the pitches event before reaching India. The left-arm bowler played a vital role in Team India’s win in the first Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. He took seven wickets in the match and also played a fine knock of 70 runs.
Before the start of the series, the nature of the pitch was one of the main debating points. Australia prepared dusty rank turners to prepare for the series. However, they failed to counter India’s spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the first Test. They lost the first Test by an innings and 132 runs in Nagpur. During the post-match interview with Star Sports, Ravindra Jadeja said,
“I feel they were seeing the rough from the moment they sat on the flight. The atmosphere they created that it would spin; it didn’t spin that much. If we see, they got out more to straight balls. We also got out lbw on straight balls.”
“This is bound to happen in India (pitches assisting spinners) because we will obviously play to our team’s strength. Our fast bowlers are also good, but spinners win more matches in India and pick up wickets, so why shouldn’t we go with our strength?” he added.
The confidence level is boosted: Ravindra Jadeja
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja further expressed that the win was a result of a complete team effort, boosting the confidence of the players. He added that Australian batters will be under pressure in the second game, on how to play against the Indian spinners. Ravindra Jadeja said,
“As a team, everyone’s confidence will be high because almost all batters contributed, and all three spinners picked up wickets. Axar didn’t get to bowl much in the second innings because Ash (Ashwin) only completed the job.”
“Everyone is bowling well and contributing, so when you win by an innings and such a big margin, I feel the confidence level is boosted. There will be more pressure on them in the upcoming game that how they will play the spinners,” he added.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.