Indian captain Rohit Sharma heaped praise on all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja after the team convincingly won the first Test match against Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs at the IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on Sunday.
Jadeja had a dream match as everything he touched turned to gold in the series opener.
The left-hander scored an unbeaten knock of 175 runs in the first innings to help India post a gigantic score of 574 runs on the board. Subsequently, the off-spinner returned with impressive figures of 5-41 in the first innings. Thus, he became the third Indian player to score more than 150 runs and take a five-wicket haul in the same innings.
Jadeja also took 4-46 in the second innings and if he would taken one more wicket, he would have become the first-ever player to score more than 150 runs in an innings and take 10 wickets in the same Test match.
This is the third time Jadeja has been awarded the Player of the match while playing in Mohali.
Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation, “The highlight of the game was Jadeja. There was a question whether to declare or not, it was the team’s decision, Jadeja’s decision to put them in, and shows how selfless he is.”
On the other hand, India was able to come up with a collective team effort. Rishabh Pant scored a quickfire knock of 96 runs, Hanuma Vihari scored a fine fifty whereas Ravichandra Ashwin took six wickets in the Test match and also scored a fifty in the first innings. Rohit added that they were able to tick the right boxes as they came up with a complete performance.
Rohit added, “It was a good start. It was a great game of cricket from our perspective. We ticked all the boxes we wanted to. To be honest I didn’t think it is going to be that kind of a Test match that would get over in three days. It was a good batting pitch, there was some turn and some assistance for the seamers as well. Lot of credit to the guys, they bowled very well in tandem, kept the pressure and never made it easier for the Sri Lanka batsmen. We just ensured we applied pressure from both ends. Good signs for India cricket. Lot of performances, landmark Test match for Virat and we wanted to come out here and win the Test first and foremost. It was heartening to see such big individual performances.”
The second Test match of the series, which will be a pink-ball Test match, will be played in Bengaluru from 12th March.
