World Cup 2023: Steve Smith’s wicket was the turning point – Ravindra Jadeja

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja feels that Steve Smith’s wicket was the turning point against Australia in their World Cup opening match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Sunday. Australia was going decently at 110-2 with Smith batting on 46 when Jadeja bowled a jaffa to get rid of the right-hander.

Smith was well-settled at the crease but Jadeja was able to bamboozle the talisman with a beautiful delivery, that turned enough to beat the bat and hit the top of off-stump.

From 110-2, Australia slipped to 140-7 as the Men in Yellow lost five wickets for only 30 runs in 9.2 overs. Jadeja was the wreck-in-chief, returning with impressive figures of 3-28 in his quota of 10 overs as the left-arm orthodox spinner also accounted for Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey.

“I think that was the turning moment, you know, when you get a wicket like Steve Smith. From there onwards it was not easy to just come in and rotate the strike for the new batter,” said Jadeja in the post-match press conference.

“So I would say that wicket was the turning point… And yeah, it helped me, because I knew the conditions in Chennai. I’ve been playing here for like 10-11 years, so I know the conditions on this ground. I enjoyed it and whatever I contribute to the team I always feel happy.”

As the pitch was providing all the assistance, Jadeja added he wanted to keep the ball at the stumps as the natural variations will always keep the batters guessing.

“When I started the first over, the ball was stopping after falling a little slow. I thought it was the afternoon, it was hot and the wicket was dry. I thought a stump-line would be better. From here some balls would turn, some would go straight so it won’t be easy for the batsman to line up. This was my plan that I should bowl at the stumps and luckily the ball to Smith turned a little more. So, my plan was simple. I was thinking that this is a Test match bowling wicket. I shouldn’t experiment too much because everything was happening from the wicket. So, I was trying to bowl it stump to stump,” Jadeja said about his methods.

Jadeja showered praise on the duo of KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, who added 165 runs for the fourth wicket. Rahul scored an unbeaten 97 whereas Kohli scored 85 and the pair helped the team get home after a panic start when they lost three wickets for two runs.

“When you’re three wickets down in just a couple of overs, you obviously panic a little bit. But we know Virat and Rahul, they’ve been doing it for the team for so many years. So, I think nobody was too hyper or panicked at that time. But yeah, luckily, they played brilliantly, they know the conditions well and they took the game forward till the last so I think that was amazing to see.”

India will next take on Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Wednesday.