Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja combined to lead Team India to an emphatic 243-run victory over South Africa in their World Cup clash at the Eden Gardens stadium on November 5, Sunday.
While Kohli struck a historical 49th ODI hundred to help India to mammoth total of 326/5, Jadeja dazzled with a brilliant fifer to bundle out South Africa for a paltry 83 to catapult India to their eighth consecutive victory in the ongoing ODI World Cup.
Jadeja ran through the South African batting unit and gunned down South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma (11 off 19), Heinrich Klaasen (1 off 11), David Miller (11 off 11), Keshav Maharaj (7 off 11) and Kagiso Rabada (6 off 26). Jadeja has not only shone with the bowl but also with the bat, with instrumental 110 runs and 14 wickets in this edition, Jadeja is doing what Yuvraj did in India's triumphant 2011 World Cup campaign.
After India's stunning win, the star all-rounder said that from the first day, he thinks like a captain.
"From the first day, I think like a captain but it is another thing that I am not the one. As an all-rounder, scoring 30-35 runs and being a partnership breaker, that's the role I have," Jadeja said.
"I always try to give an impactful performance. And I never take fielding for granted. I can also miss a catch, so I am always prepared, that if I get a catch, I don't relax on the field. So, I just keep trying. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. But I keep trying," he added.
For Jadeja, his stunning spell against Australia and South Africa and instrumental knock against New Zealand.
"My rhythm has been good in the last few games and I am happy that I am able to contribute for the team in important games. I am delivering with both bat and ball. I will be more confident about my own game in the coming matches."
According to Jadeja his fellow teammates Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj have made his job easier.
"Whatever track you play on, if fast bowlers are getting a couple of wickets upfront, it becomes easier for the spinner because the new batters can't play shots straight up and spinner becomes more confident while varying speeds and using more subtle variations. So faster bowlers are giving 2-3 wickets or even more up-front. Hope we can continue like this in knock-outs," Jadeja further added.
Batting first, India rode on Kohli and Shreyas Iyer's big knocks to put a big total on the board. After the early dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, Virat paired up with Shreyas Iyer to stitch an instrumental partnership of 134 runs to guide India to a mammoth total. While Kohli ended up scoring an unbeaten 101 off 121 balls, Iyer notched a much-needed 77 off 87 balls to steady India's boat. India's bowling did the rest to win the match.
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