'They were already tired fielding for nearly 2 days': Jadeja explains India's decision to declare, 'I sent a message...'

Ravindra Jadeja, who was the brightest star of India's first innings, explained the reason behind India declaring before he got to his maiden double hundred.

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was only 25 runs away from his maiden Test double hundred when skipper Rohit Sharma decided to declare the first innings against Sri Lanka at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Saturday. While a lot of fans and pundits expressed their displeasure at the sight of seeing Jadeja return unbeaten on 175, the man of the moment explained why the call was made.

Ravindra Jadeja explains why India declared first innings against Sri Lanka in Mohali Test before his maiden double century (200).

Opting to bat first, the hosts put up a mammoth total of 574/8 decl. in the first hit out. Three batters in Hanuma Vihari (58), R Ashwin (61), and Rishabh Pant (96) scored half-centuries but only left-hander Jadeja was able to convert his start into a ton.

While addressing the media following Stumps on Day 2 at the venue, the star India cricketer revealed that he insisted that the timing was right to get the opposition in.

"I also told them that there is variable bounce and deliveries have started turning. So I sent a message that there is something on offer from the strip and I suggested that we should put them in to bat now itself.

"They were already tired fielding for nearly quarter to two days (five sessions)," Jadeja, who also picked up rival skipper Dimuth Karunaratne's wicket, said after second day's play.

"Since they were tired, it was not easy to play the big shots straightaway and bat for long hours. So plan was to declare quickly and exploit the fatigue of the opposition batters," he further explained.

In fact, the up and down nature of the track helped him remove Karunaratne, who has been a prolific performer in 2021 and a part of ICC's Test Team of the Year.

"When I was batting, there were some deliveries that turned and some kept low. There was natural variation off the surface and that was the plan. To keep the ball on the stumps and if we keep it on stumps, it can go straight or also turn from the same spot, and that's what happened.

“My first ball (to Karunaratne) turned and second ball I thought that I will bowl on the fourth stump and if it turns or stays low, there was always a chance of getting a wicket.”