I would say this is my lucky ground: Ravindra Jadeja after Mohali heroics

Tags: Sri Lanka tour of India 2022, India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test at Mohali, Mar 04-08, 2022, India A, Sri Lanka, Ravindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja

Published on: Mar 07, 2022

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

Team India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has stated that the dominating win against Sri Lanka in the 1st Test in Mohali should boost the confidence of the team. The 33-year-old was named player of the match for his brilliant all-round performance in the Test. He first struck at unbeaten 175 in India’s first innings. With his left-arm spin, he bamboozled Sri Lanka’s batters and finished with nine wickets for the match. Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four wickets each in the 2nd innings as India thumped Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Speaking after receiving the Player of the Match award, Jadeja termed Mohali a lucky venue. He said, “I would say this is my lucky ground. Whenever I come here I get positive vibes. I was looking to build a partnership with Rishabh, give him the strike and enjoy his batting from the other end. To be honest I don’t know about any stat. Feeling very good, happy to score runs and pick wickets for the team.”

The all-rounder has been in terrific form over the last couple of seasons in international cricket. Even a forced break due to injury has not hampered his rhythm as he has carried on from where he left off before the layoff. On his stunning all-round effort, he commented, “Obviously as a player, you boost your confidence with such a performance. I have not done anything differently, just played to my strengths and I give myself time to settle down. I look to keep it very simple out in the middle. I haven’t played with the SG pink ball, so it is going to be different and I will practice for a couple of days, hopefully, it comes good.”

Sri Lanka were all out for 174 in their first innings on Sunday. Rohit Sharma enforced the follow-on, but the Lankans could only do slightly better in the second innings, folding up for 178 in 60 overs. Apart from Jadeja, Ashwin also had a memorable match, going past Kapil Dev’s Test tally of 434 wickets. Reacting to the massive achievement, the off-spinner took to social media and wrote, "28 years ago, I was cheering the great Kapil Dev on to get his world record tally of wickets. I never had the slightest of ideas that I would become an off-spinner, play for my country, and even manage to go past the great man's tally of wickets."

"I am delighted and very grateful to what this game has given me so far,” he added

Following the Mohali Test, Ashwin has 436 wickets to his name from 85 Tests at an average of 24.26.

–By A Cricket Correspondent

Related News