Veteran India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is chasing the 300 Test wicket milestone after impressing with the ball on Day 2 of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. The opening two days were a mixed affair for both sides. Bangladesh showed signs of a quick finish to their first innings as they managed to reduce India to 144-6. Known for their ability with the bat, the experienced duo steadied the ship by stitching together a 199-run partnership.
With the opposition in the lead, Ravichandran Ashwin was tasked with piling up runs on the board while Jadeja held the fort at the other end.
Ashwin’s fast-paced 113-run knock on home turf and Jadeja’s flawless 86 took the pressure off India’s shoulders. He revealed the conversation he had with Ashwin during their match-saving partnership in the opening Test against Bangladesh.
“First of all, Ashwin doesn’t need advice (laughs). I just told Ashwin that he won’t make any wrong calls or attempts because the wicket was so good and we were both batting very well so I said I won’t make any mistakes. I said I will look for easy singles, I will try not to make you run hard and that was the conversation between us. Well, I played to Ashwin. He played a great knock on his home ground,” Jadeja said at the end of Day 2.
While Ashwin lifted the bat to make a hard-fought hundred, Jadeja fell 14 runs short. Taskin Ahmed forced a healthy edge off Jadeja’s bat, ending his hopes of a fifth Test hundred in bittersweet fashion.
Despite missing his moment of glory, Jadeja showed powerful batting with the ball. Despite the pitch not offering much for him, he managed to deceive the experienced duo of Litton Das and Shakib Al Hasan.
Jadeja (296) added two scalps to his name and is just four wickets short of reaching the 300-Test wicket milestone as he looks to leave Chennai with an impressive resume.
“We were out today, but that’s part of the game. Now we have to get a good score in the second innings. I’m very happy with the bowling today. It’s a good opportunity to take 300 wickets at this stadium,” Jadeja added.
Bangladesh had posted a whopping total of 376 on the board before being bowled out by India for just 14 runs. By the end of day two, India had a massive lead of 308 runs.
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