Indian skipper Rohit Sharma showered praise on Ravindra Jadeja after a huge win of 243 runs against South Africa at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday. Ravindra Jadeja played a key role as he once again delivered with both bat and ball.

First with the bat, Jadeja scored an unbeaten knock of 15-ball 29 to help the team post 326 runs on the board after Virat Kohli scored 101*. Subsequently, he was at his magical best on a pitch that had all the assistance for the spinners.

Jadeja returned with impressive figures of 5-33 in the nine overs he bowled. The left-arm orthodox spinner accounted for Temba Bavuma, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj, and Kagiso Rabada in the nine overs he bowled. The experienced campaigner was right on the money and bowled in the right areas to let the pitch do the rest.

Thus, he registered second-best figures for an Indian spinner in World Cup history.

Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation, “Jadeja has been very good for us. Playing in every format over the years. Today was a classical case as to what Jadeja is for us. Came out at the death and scored vital runs. Then picked up wickets. He knows his role and knows what the expectations from him.”

On the other hand, Rohit also showered praise on Shreyas Iyer and Mohammad Shami. Iyer scored a crucial knock of 77 runs and added 134 runs with Virat Kohli. Shami also continued to impress as he bagged two wickets of Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram.

Rohit said on backing his players, “Even if the faith hadn’t been repaid, I would have still stuck to them. We need to keep the trust. It can’t be done every day. For Shami to come back the way he has, shows the mindset. The last two games has shown what Iyer is capable of.”

India will next take on the Netherlands at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Sunday.