Saurashtra skipper Ravindra Jadeja has announced his arrival after injury with an exceptional performance in Ranji Trophy 2023 clash against Tamil Nadu on January 26. Jadeja took seven wickets for 53 runs as Tamil Nadu got all out for 133 in their second innings. The left-arm spinner had help from Dharmendrasinh Jadeja as well who took three wickets for 64 runs. The 34-year-old used only three bowlers including himself in the innings to get his side back in the game.
This was Ravindra’s return to competitive cricket after recovering from knee injury which ruled him out of action for nearly six months. He missed half of T20 Asia Cup and T20 World Cup 2022.
It was Dharmendrasinh who took the first wicket of third innings by getting N Jagadeesan out for a two-ball duck. From the other end, Ravindra got rid of Shahrukh Khan. Baba Aprajith fell to Dharmendrasinh for a single-digit score as well.
Opener Sai Sudharsan and Baba Indrajith helped Tamil Nadu recover. The 58-run partnership for the fourth wicket was broken by Ravindra who got rid of Indrajith (28). In the next over, Sudharsan (37) fell to uncapped Jadeja as Tamil Nadu lost half of their side for 77.
Ravindra rushed through the lower order and tailenders as Tamil Nadu failed to post a big target on the board. Despite a 132-run lead, Tamil Nadu set 266-run target for Saurashtra. However, Saurashtra lost their opener Jay Gohil for a duck. Nightwatchman Chetan Sakariya played cautiously and played out seven deliveries. At stumps, Saurashtra were 4/1. They need 262 more runs on Day 4 to win the game.
Earlier, in the first innings, the all-rounder managed to take just one wicket. On Day 1, he bowled 17 overs but remained wicketless at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
He could not do much with the bat and scored 15 runs from 23 deliveries as Saurashtra got all out for 192. The veteran all-rounder will need to perform with the bat on Day 4 if Suarashtra are to chase down the total on a pitch that is favouring spinners.
Ravindra has been picked in the 17-member Test squad for upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023. However, his participation was subject to fitness. After a seven-fer in the Ranji clash, he is likely to be in the playing XI in the first Test at Nagpur starting February 9.
