Rockstar Ravindra: Jadeja on day 2 slams 175* to put India in command in first Test against Sri Lanka

Jadeja’s logic was that Sri Lanka’s players were tired and flagging on the field and that this would be the most opportune time to put them under pressure and force mistakes with the bat. All through his career, even when he was the object of memes and ridicule on social media, Jadeja has been an out and out team player. His captains have known this, his teammates have known this and it took the public at large a bit of time to catch on.

As a cricketer, as a package, Jadeja is a captain’s dream. In Indian conditions, he is a lethal bowler, every bit as destructive as Ravichandran Ashwin. Overseas his batting is of more utility to the team, but even there he lends control with the ball. Home, away and anywhere in the universe, really, Jadeja’s fielding is as good as it gets. He is a quick mover, has sharp anticipation, safe hands and a rocket throw.

If you built a prototype for a slow-bowling allrounder, you would get someone such as Jadeja. Consider this: since he nailed down his batting, and the team began to view him as a batting allrounder and use him as such, in around 2016, Jadeja has scored 1,897 runs at an average of 44.11. To do so batting at No. 6 or No. 7 is remarkable in itself. Add to this 165 wickets at 25.32 in the same period and you have a genuine match-winner on your hands.

Once described as a bits and pieces player, Jadeja was livid and made his displeasure felt. And, when you look at those numbers and his contributions to Indian wins, you can see why. On the day, Jadeja turned a good Indian position into an impregnable one. There is no way in which India can lose this Test from here on, no matter what Sri Lanka attempt or accomplish.

This was also a return to the India of old, in which you bat long in the first innings and then let the spinners do the talking. India’s score was their first of 500 or more since 2019, against South Africa in Pune. In that innings of 600/5 declared, Jadeja made 91.

The gap between putting up a tall first innings score at home shows you that India’s batsmen have struggled on spicy pitches as much as those in the visiting opposition.

When Jadeja bats as he did in Mohali, two things happen. Firstly, the fielding captain is challenged in terms of setting fields, because Jadeja works his angles cleverly and hits the ball into spaces that are unexpected for a particular delivery. He is just as likely to open the face of the bat and run the ball to third man as he is to fetch it from outside off and hit over midwicket.

Secondly, while he has all the big shots, he is also blessed with patience, which means he can wait for the loose ball, or cash in once a bowler is wearing and at the end of his spell.

He did both to perfection on the day, giving Sri Lanka little room to manoeuvre. It was cricketing acumen of the highest order backed up by skills honed through years of hard work. Jadeja the Rockstar, more than made his one-time mentor at Rajasthan Royals proud.