India’s all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has revealed that he suggested the team management to declare the innings despite being only 25 runs away from completing his double hundred.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma decided to declare the innings after the team posted a gargantuan score of 574 runs.
Jadeja revealed that the opposition was tired and it won’t be easy for them to play the big shots straight away. Thus, they had a chance to put pressure on the opposition as there was some help for the bowlers. Jadeja decided to put the team’s interest ahead of his personal milestone. The left-hander played a fine knock of 175 runs, which is his highest score in the red-ball version.
“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,” Jadeja said.
“They were already tired fielding for nearly quarter to two days (five sessions),” Jadeja added.
“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 added.
Meanwhile, Jadeja also got the big wicket of Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne on the second ball he bowled. Jadeja added that the plan was to bowl on the fourth stump line. In fact, there was a strong appeal on the first ball Jadeja bowled to Karunaratne but Rohit Sharma decided not to review.
“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.”
Jadeja was delighted with his batting show as he batted at the top of his game to help India post a massive score.
“I look to improve my game every single time I play for India. When I get an opportunity to score runs, I look to implement that opportunity in performance and so yeah, all in all, I am very much happy,” he said.
Furthermore, Jadeja backed his fine show with the bat with a five-wicket-haul as he returned with figures of 5-41 in the first innings. Sri Lanka has asked been asked to follow-on after skittling out for 174 runs in the first dig.
