Ravindra Jadeja’s vital 63 and his 96-run stand with Wriddhiman Saha for the seventh wicket set India on the course to victory after the end of day 3 of the fourth Test at the HPCA stadium. (DAY 3 BLOG)
However, during the course of the partnership, Jadeja was involved in an intense sledging battle with Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade. (DAY 3 SCORECARD)
Speaking about that incident at the press conference, Jadeja said, “We all know what happens. I just told him, once you lose and are free, we will have dinner together.”
Wade apparently sledged Jadeja on why he is in the Indian team, to which the left-hander responded, “If you will start it…I will give it back to you.”
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Both batsmen survived a testing period in the first hour on Day 3. While Saha buckled down, Jadeja survived a couple of close leg-before appeals and overturned a caught-behind decision on the first ball of the day. The Indian all-rounder said that it was a tough situation.
“The second new ball was fairly new. It was good that it happened in the very first ball as then it’s just out of your way and there’s no disturbance. I was sure that there wasn’t any edge, I just told Saha that it’s a bit tough situation but we will have to play it out,” Jadeja said.
{{/usCountry}}“The second new ball was fairly new. It was good that it happened in the very first ball as then it’s just out of your way and there’s no disturbance. I was sure that there wasn’t any edge, I just told Saha that it’s a bit tough situation but we will have to play it out,” Jadeja said.
{{/usCountry}}Small lead was vital
Having given India the lead, India’s bowlers put in a magnificent performance with Umesh Yadav, Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin taking three wickets each. The small lead allowed Jadeja to bowl with a free mind and psychologically, it was a good feeling.
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“The lead was big enough with the pitch having uneven bounce. The ball was swinging and deviating after hitting the cracks. If you noticed, they had lost three wickets before the deficit was erased, so it was crucial. We were not on the backfoot and the bowlers could bowl with a free mind,” Jadeja said.