New Delhi: Ravindra Jadeja turned out to be the saviour for India with the bat in their first innings as he notched up a gritty fifty to bail the team out of trouble in the ongoing 3rd Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. Jadeja slammed his 22nd fifty in Test cricket and third in Australia in the whites as he showcased why he remains one of the vital cogs for India in the longest format.
The star all-rounder was left warming the bench in the first two Tests after failing to make the cut in the playing XI but made a thumping comeback in the Gabba Test. The left-hander walked out to bat at number 7 with the visitors in deep trouble at 74/5 having lost skipper Rohit Sharma cheaply on 10. He combined with KL Rahul to share a crucial stand for the sixth wicket to get India back on track.
While Rahul ended up missing out on a well-deserved century after getting dismissed on 84 by Nathan Lyon, Jadeja went on to complete his fifty with a single off Mitchell Starc in the 50th over. It was a brilliant knock from the experienced all-rounder under pressure as he kept India in the hunt to get to 246 runs and avoid the follow-on in response to Australia’s first-innings total of 445 runs.
Jadeja was lauded by fans on social media for his terrific knock to bail the team out of trouble. Many also questioned the Indian team management’s decision to bench Jadeja for the first two Test matches despite his great batting record in Test Down Under.
Jadeja can fit into the playing XI as a pure batter anyday in place of the two Gentlemen or the Prince. pic.twitter.com/jpIZittIFT
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) December 17, 2024
Jadeja has 50+ average in SENA as a batsman since 2022. It’s criminal to keep him out of the team. This is better than many pure batsmen in the team.
— ` (@FourOverthrows) December 17, 2024
If Ravindra Jadeja’s Performance Does Not Come From Bowling Then It Comes From Batting And If It Does Not Come From Batting Then He Also Contributes Through Fielding.
Greatest All Rounder And Saviour For A Reason 😎. pic.twitter.com/npYZk1DkvU
— Aufridi Chumtya (@ShuhidAufridi) December 17, 2024
Jadeja the Saviour !! Good Going , Jaddu !! 💙🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/unTqXBNjWB
— WickedRish (@WRish_17) December 17, 2024
Sir Ravindra Jadeja is bailing us out again in tough conditions. He has done it quite a few times now. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EUduypNaOu
— Kohlistic🔥 (@Kohlistic18) December 17, 2024
Onus on Jadeja, Nitish to help India avoid follow-on
Despite Rahul’s 84 and Jadeja’s half-century, India are in a spot of bother in their first innings of the 3rd Test against Australia as they are yet to safeguard themselves from being asked to follow-on. India need to score at least 246 runs in their first innings, in reply to Australia’s first-innings total of 445 runs to avoid follow-on in the Gabba Test.
The onus is on Jadeja and fellow all-rounder Nitish Reddy to ensure India get to 246 runs on Day 4 to avoid follow-on in the Test match. Jadeja and Nitish are the last recognised batting pair for India and need to put on a big partnership to keep the team out of trouble in the Test match.
Ravindra Jadeja notched up a gritty fifty to bail India out of trouble in their first innings of the ongoing third Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
