India’s talisman all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has taken giant strides as a batter in the last couple of years. In fact, Jadeja has been averaging 47.76 since 2018.
Jadeja scored a piece de resistance knock of 175* in the first innings against Sri Lanka in the first Test match at the IS Bindra Stadium on Saturday.
Jadeja looked untroubled throughout his innings as he batted at the top of his game to score a brilliant knock.
The left-hander scored 17 fours and three sixes in his massive knock. Thus, Jadeja played a key role in helping India post a gargantuan score of 574 runs in the first innings after Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first.
On the other hand, Jadeja carried the same confidence in his bowling as he returned with figures of 5-41 and bowled a fine spell. Sri Lanka was bundled out for a paltry score of 174 runs in the first innings and was asked to follow on by Rohit Sharma. In fact, Jadeja in an earlier interview with ESPN Cricinfo had said that he would want to achieve the record of scoring a hundred and taking a five-wicket haul in the same innings.
Jadeja accounted for Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne on the first ball he bowled. Furthermore, he dismissed Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Vishwa Fernando, and Lahiru Kumara.
Consequently, Jadeja has now become the third Indian player to score a hundred and take a five-wicket haul in the same innings after Vinoo Mankad and Polly Umrigar. Vinoo Mankad was the first-ever player to reach this milestone when he scored 184 and took 5-196 vs England in 1952.
In 1962, Polly Umrigar joined the coveted list as he scored 172* and took 5 for 107 against West Indies. Meanwhile, Denis Atkinson (219 & 5/56 – vs Australia in 1955), Gary Sobers (174 & 5/41 – vs England in 1966), and Mushtaq Mohammad (201 & 5/49 – vs New Zealand in 1973) are the other players to achieve the elusive landmark.
Meanwhile, this was Jadeja’s second Test hundred and his 10th five-wicket haul in the Test format.
