Team India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja opened up about the team’s chances of saving the second and final Test against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Jadeja said India had a chance to save the match, adding that drawing a hard-fought draw on the final day would almost feel like a victory.
South Africa scored before declaring the second innings at 260 for 5, taking their total to 548. Tristan Stubbs was the top scorer for the Proteas with 94 runs, while Tony De Zorzi (49), Wiaan Mulder (35*), Ryan Rickelton (35), and Aiden Markram (29) made useful contributions on the fourth day (Tuesday, 25 November).
Jadeja was the only Indian bowler to make a significant impact, taking four wickets. Chasing a big target, the host team faced an almost impossible task before the final day.
It will be as good as the win – Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja remained optimistic about India’s prospects after the fourth day of the Guwahati Test. Jadeja said that the team should go into the final day with confidence in its defensive skills.
The left-handed batsman said he was aware that the pitch had started turning and it was likely to get worse. He said that given the state of the match, resisting the South African attack long enough to ensure a draw would be just as valuable as a win.
“We have to bat tomorrow and if we save the game it will be a win. The ball has already started turning and tomorrow it will turn more. We have to rely on our defence.”
There is no need to panic and you don’t care – Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja said that the psychological pressure of the situation often matters more than the amount of spin. He told that the team lagging behind in the game thinks too much about every challenge.
“When a team is ahead by 300 runs, there is no panic and you don’t care how much the ball is spinning. When the other team is behind, a lot of things will work in your mind,” Jadeja said.
India faced another bad start. Yashasvi Jaiswal was out for 13 and KL Rahul was out for 6, leaving the hosts struggling at 27/2. Sai Sudarshan and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav remained unbeaten at the crease. Marco Jensen and Simon Harmer hit one each.
Ravindra Jadeja completed 50 test wickets against South Africa
Ravindra Jadeja completed 50 test wickets against South Africa. He has taken five wickets three times, with his best performance being 6/138. He joins the likes of Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin, all of whom have taken 50 or more wickets against the Proteas.
Jadeja has a low average compared to other Indian bowlers in that list. According to Cricbuzz, he is the second left-arm spinner in history to take more than 50 Test wickets against South Africa, joining England’s Colin Blythe, who took 59 wickets more than a century ago.
Jadeja has taken 348 Test wickets in 89 matches at an average of 25.11, which includes 17 four-wicket hauls and 15 five-wicket hauls. The left-handed batsman has scored 4,041 runs at an average of 38.12 with the help of six centuries and 27 half-centuries.
Also read: Suresh Raina gives clean chit to Gautam Gambhir for India’s Test defeat, blames…
