New Delhi: Stylish Team India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has a history of delivering for the Men in Blue in crucial situations. He once again proved his bowling prowess on the first day of the third and final Test match against New Zealand at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai after breaking a crucial partnership between the Kiwi batters.
India started off well by taking the first three Kiwi wickets inside 20 overs but then a partnership between Will Young and Daryl Mitchell for the fourth wickets troubled the Indian side. Both the New Zealand players stitched 87 runs and were looking strong on the crease when Jadeja bowled a beautiful off-spinner to take the wicket of Young for 71 runs.
A double-wicket feast for India
The wicket of Young was taken on the second delivery of the 45th overs and then two balls later, on the fifth delivery, Jadeja bowled a stunner to clean up wicketkeeper Tom Blundell for a duck to give India two quick wickets. Not only this, 7 overs later the Jadeja again stole the limelight by dismissing Glenn Phillips for 17 runs to put India in command at Tea on Day 1.
Here’s the video
2 WICKETS IN AN OVER BY RAVINDRA JADEJA…!!! 🙇♂️pic.twitter.com/mK00VXmkyf
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 1, 2024
Meanwhile, at Tea on the first day, New Zealand were 192/6 in 55 overs after winning the toss at the iconic Wankhede stadium. While India would look to take the remining four wickets quickly in the last session and bat before the day ends and the Kiwis would aim to stretch it till the second day.
Jadeja breaks into top five wicket takers for India in Tests
Ravindra Jadeja (312* wickets) surpassed pacers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma (311 wickets each) to break into the top five wicket takers for India in Tests.
619 – Kumble
533 – Ashwin
434 -Kapil
417 – Harbhajan
312 – Jadeja