Ravindra Jadeja took a fifer to help India dismiss New Zealand for 235 on the opening day of their third Test in Mumbai on Friday.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Ravindra Jadeja, it would seem, manifested India’s series loss against New Zealand.
Speaking after the opening day’s play at the Wankhede Stadium, the left-arm spinner said: "I was afraid of this. I personally thought that until I played for India, I wouldn't lose a single series, and then this happened. Whatever I think about, it somehow happens suddenly (laughs).”
Jokes aside, he maintained that India’s lofty standard at home was the reason for this to seem a lot bigger than it actually is.
“It happens sometimes because we have raised our expectations so high that we have not lost a single series for 12 years, and in 12 years, there are 5 Test matches in total which we have lost, the ones I have played in. It is a good achievement for the team. But, when you raise your expectations so high and when you lose a series, it looks very different. These things happen, but, as a team, it is a lesson.”
Speaking of lessons and learning from it, India didn’t put it to practice in the waning minutes of the opening day of the third Test. Having gotten off to a good start, courtesy of the top order, India lost their plot for a few minutes and that resulted in them limping off at stumps for 86 for 4.
When asked for his reaction on the last 10-15 minutes, Jadeja jumped in saying: “(laughs) it didn’t take that long also. But see this happens, and you can't blame anyone. Everyone makes small mistakes but our remaining batters will have to make small partnerships. We will have to do as much as we can now, only then will we be able to play (well) in the second innings.
“See, when you're (2-0) down in the series, and such a situation comes up, it obviously will make people say ‘oh, you panicked because you're down 2-0 in the series. When you win and when this situation happens, everyone says, ‘it's okay, it happens’. When you're down in the series, then these small things always seem big.”
The situation India find themselves in must be especially irksome for Jadeja because he did all he could - a fifer from 22 exceptional overs - to ensure they would restrict New Zealand to 235. To add, he achieved this feat in conditions which were oppressing.
“It was very challenging. There was a time when I couldn't even hold the ball,” he said. "But this is how it is at the international level. I just tried to keep my hands and the ball as dry as possible. It was a little difficult to grip the ball.”
As for his bowling and the changes he made from not having contributed significantly in the preceding games, he said: “I wasn’t that good in the first two Test matches, but here it worked because there is extra bounce and turn here. But it has the right amount of turn: not too much, not too little. The thing with tracks which turn a lot (like it was in Pune), the ball keeps beating the outside edge so you need some luck on pitches like that.”