IND vs AUS 2023: Was using the crease to create doubt in mind of batters – Ravindra Jadeja explains his gameplan

India’s veteran spinner Ravindra Jadeja revealed his strategy after a successful day at the office. Jadeja returned with figures of 5-47 to claim his 11th five-wicket haul and he disclosed that he was using the crease to create doubts in the mind of the opposition.

The left-arm orthodox spinner admitted that not all the balls were turning viciously for them and thus he wanted to bowl from different angles. In fact, Jadeja was returning to International action after a long gap of five months but he was able to straight away hit the straps.

Jadeja accounted for the big wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith to put India in front. Australia was skittled out for a paltry score of 177 and a lot of credit goes to Jadeja as he was the wrecker-in-chief. Jadeja feels his natural variations helped him savor success on the opening day.

Ravindra Jadeja said in the post-match press conference, “I was using the crease because all the deliveries were not spinning. To create doubt in the mind of batters, I was going wide of the crease and sometimes bowling from closer to the crease. I was mixing it up.

“Sometimes, the ball spins when the batter moves out of his crease. Luckily, he (Marnus) stepped out and the ball spun. For Smith, the ball went straight.”

Jadeja added that the pitch is not a rank turner but feels defending will become more difficult as the game will wore on.

“It’s not a rank turner. For a first day pitch, it was slow and there wasn’t a lot of bounce as well compared to other wickets. Defending wasn’t as difficult today for batters, but it will happen as the game progresses. That happens in most Test matches. Definitely not a rank turner.”

The all-rounder also reflected on his time out of action due to a knee injury. Jadeja feels the time out of the game pushed him to work hard on his fitness.

“It was difficult. I missed important tournaments in the last five months. As a player, you have doubts in your mind as to whether you will be able to regain the form you had when you got injured.

“The five months that I missed due to injury pushed me to get fit as soon as possible. But I wanted to be 100 percent. That’s why it took some time.”

India is in a strong position at 77-1 after the end of the opening day’s play.