Xtra Time Web Desk: Bowling for 10-12 hours a day at the National Cricket Academy during his rehab was the reason behind his stunning comeback feels Team India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The left arm spinner picked 5 wickets for 47 runs as he bamboozled the Australian batters with his spin.
The 34-year-old all-rounder spilled the beans on his comeback to international cricket following a 5 months injury layoff. He used to bowl for insane hours sometimes even for 12 hours at the NCA. He worked hard on his fitness as well as on his skills.
The Ranji Trophy game against Tamil Nadu gave him the much-needed confidence as he bowled almost 42 overs in the game, picking seven wickets in the second innings.
“Playing Test cricket after 5 months was tough. I was prepared for it and I was working hard on my fitness as well as on my skills at NCA. I played a first-class game (Ranji) after a long time and I bowled almost 42 overs. It gave me a lot of confidence to come here and play a Test match,” said Jadeja after the play on Day 1 at VCA stadium.
He added, “I was working hard on my bowling when I was in Bangalore at the NCA. I was bowling 10-12 hours every day and that helped me a lot. I was working on my rhythm because I knew that I have to play Test match and I have to bowl long spells,” he said.
Among his five dismissals, Steve Smith’s was the best of the lot as the left hander roughed him by bowling all three balls in the same spot – full and around off. While Smith defended the first two balls, in the third he could not get his bat in time as the ball went right through Smith.
Jadeja looked supremely fit as he bowled long spell at the nets in the lead up to the test match. He also had a close look at the Vidarbha Cricket Association wicket during the practice sessions trying to gauze the areas to bowl at.
According to Jadeja, “I preferred bowling stump to stump, because on a low bounce track, there are more chances of leg before and bowled and luckily, I got a few LBWs and bowled, so that makes me happy.”
Watch the post day’s play press conference of Ravindra Jadeja: