India v Australia: Ravindra Jadeja revealed that he used to bowl for 10-12 hours everyday at NCA to regain his fitness and horn his skills for his India comeback.
New Delhi ,UPDATED: Feb 9, 2023 17:18 IST
Ravindra Jadeja returned with a five-wicket haul on Day 1 of the first Test. (PTI Photo)
By India Today Web Desk: India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja stated that he used to bowl for 10-12 hours everyday at the National Cricket Academy to regain his fitness and horn his skills for his comeback to the team.
Jadeja made a stunning comeback to India team, taking a five-wicket haul on Day 1 of the first Test against Australia in Nagpur. The all-rounder said that he enjoyed his bowling as well.
“Very happy with the way I was bowling. I was enjoying my bowling. Playing after 5 months, playing Test cricket, it’s tough. I was prepared for it and I was working hard on my fitness as well as on my skills at NCA,” Jadeja told the broadcaster after the stumps on Day 1.
Jadeja further said that playing in a Ranji Trophy match ahead of his India comeback helped him a lot. The left-arm spinner took seven wickets for Saurashtra in a game against Tamil Nadu. “I played a first-class game (Ranji) after a long time and I bowled almost 42 overs. It gave me a lot of confidence to come here and play a Test match,” he said.
The India all-rounder added that in the ongoing Nagpur Test against Australia he targetted to bowl stump-to stump. Among the five wickets, Jadeja picked the crucial wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith.
“There was no bounce on the wicket, I was targeting the stump-to-stump line. The odd ball was spinning and the odd ball was going straight. Being a left-arm spinner, if you get batsmen out caught behind or stumped, you always give credit to the ball,” said Jadeja.
“In Test match cricket, whatever wicket you take, you are happy with that. I was working hard on my bowling when I was in Bangalore at the NCA. I was bowling 10-12 hours everyday and that helped me a lot. I was working on my rhythm because I knew that I have to play Test match and I have to bowl long spells.”
