India’s star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was at his best in the first innings of the ongoing Edgbaston Test against England as he played a sensational knock of 104 runs to help the Indian side post a target of 416 on the board.
Ravindra Jadeja Played A Stunning Knock
Team India was struggling at 98/5 when Ravindra Jadeja formed a partnership with Rishabh Pant and the duo took the England bowlers to the cleaners as they added 222 runs for the sixth wicket. After playing the role of a second fiddle to an on-song Rishabh Pant, Jadeja switched gears and became the aggressor on Day 2 of the ongoing Test match.
Anderson’s Comment For Sir Jadeja
After stumps on Day 2, Jadeja talked about his mindset during the innings, while speaking to the reporters. He also reacted to James Anderson’s comment where the England pacer had said that Jadeja thinks like a proper batter now.
For the unversed, while speaking to reporters after stumps on Day 2 at a press conference, Anderson had said: “In the past he was coming at 8, bat with the tail so he had to chance his arm a little bit, whereas now at 7 he can bat like a proper batter. He leaves really well and made it difficult for us.”
Notably, during the 2014 Trent Bridge Test, Jadeja and Anderson indulged in verbal banter inside the pavilion, and later a complaint was made against Anderson by the Indian management. As per a report in ESPNcricinfo, the Indian side had claimed that Anderson had shoved the Indian all-rounder without any altercation, and eventually a Level 3 charge was imposed on the England pacer by ICC.
Sir Jadeja Trolled Anderson
When Jadeja was asked about his comment at a press conference on Saturday, he said: “See, when you score runs, everyone says they think of themselves as a proper batter. But I’ve always tried to give myself time at the crease, to set a partnership with whoever is at the crease, to play with him. It’s nice Anderson has realised that after 2014.”
Talking about his knock in the ongoing Test, Jadeja said: “In England you have play close to the body. The ball swings here so if you look to play the cover- or square-drive there is a chance you can edge to the cordon. My focus was to initially not play at too many balls outside off-stump. When the cover or point is vacant there is a temptation to hit the ball through that area for a boundary, but then you can get out in the slips. My thought was only to hit the ball that was really close to me and to hit it straight. Luckily, all the balls that I picked were in my areas and converted them into boundaries. If you know where your off-stump is, then you can leave the balls outside that line.”
