New Delhi: When Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja made his Test debut in 2012, India lost the four-match Test series to England 2-1 in Nagpur. Since then the Saurashtra player decided to win every Test series at home. He was an integral part of the Indian side which won 18 Test series on the trot between 2013 and October 2024.
The monumental feat was recently brought to halt after Tom Latham-led New Zealand won back-to-back Test matches in Bengaluru and Pune to stun the hosts with their first Test series loss in 12 years.
“I was afraid of this. Personally, I had thought that as long as I played for India, I didn’t want to lose a single series at home. But this also happened. Whatever I think about, it happens suddenly,” Jadeja told in the post-match press conference after the gameplay of Day 1 in the third Test.
“When you raise your expectations so high and then you lose a series after 12 years, it looks very different. These things happen, but as a team, it is a lesson. We need to pick up positives from this and deal with what situation comes next,” he added.
Daryl Mitchell feels match is evenly poised after Day 1 action
New Zealand opted to bat first in the third Test played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The visitors were bowled out for a sub par total of 235 as Ravindra Jadeja (5 for 65) claimed his 14th five-wicket haul. Jadeja was ably supported by Washington Sundar (4 for 81) from the other end to ensure the visitors didn’t score plenty of runs.
Daryl Mitchell (82) and Will Young (71) made vital contributions with the bat for the Black Caps. The duo was involved in a crucial 87-run stand for the fourth wicket.
India started off their innings well despite losing skipper Rohit Sharma in the seventh over. Shubman Gill (31*) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (30) played brilliantly before the hosts crumbled in the last 10 minutes of the day. India were reduced to 86 for 4 from a strong position of 78 for 1. Jaiswal, Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj were dismissed in succession before the umpires called ‘Stumps’.
Mitchell feels the match is evenly poised after the gameplay on first day and New Zealand will target to pick more wickets early on the second day.
“We put a total on the board (and) hopefully now we can take a few more wickets. We’ll see what happens tomorrow (day two). The game is evenly poised right at the moment,” Mitchell said in the press conference.
