IND vs AUS 2022-23, 1st Test: 'After 5 months, playing Test cricket, it's tough' - Ravindra Jadeja post fifer

IND vs AUS 2022-23: India has taken the attack to Australia on Day 1 of the opening Nagpur Test for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While Ravindra Jadeja grabbed a fifer, he attested that it was tough playing Test cricket after five months.

Image credit: PTI

Team India was all over Australia on Day 1 of the opening Test for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Being played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday, the visitors were skittled for 177, while leg-spinner Ravindra Jadeja was the danger man, grasping five wickets. Notably, it was his first Test after a five-month injury lay-off.

Jadeja had knee surgery after suffering the same during last year's Asia Cup. He returned to competitive cricket last month in the Ranji Trophy, where he grabbed a fifer against Tamil Nadu upon his return. In the meantime, the all-rounder argued it was difficult to play Test cricket after five long months.

After Day 1's play on Thursday, Jadeja told the broadcaster, "Very happy with how I was bowling. I was enjoying my bowling. Playing after five months, playing Test cricket, it's tough. I was prepared for it and worked hard on my fitness and skills at NCA. After a long time, I played a First-Class game and bowled almost 42 overs."

"It gave me a lot of confidence to come here and play a Test match. There was no bounce on the wicket. I was targeting the stump-to-stump line. The oddball was spinning, and the oddball was going straight. Being a left-arm spinner, if you get batsmen out caught behind or stumped, you always give credit to the ball," added Jadeja.

"In Test match cricket, you are happy with whatever wicket you take. I was working hard on my bowling when I was in Bangalore at the NCA. I was bowling for 10-12 hours daily, which greatly helped me. I was working on my rhythm because I knew I must play a Test match and bowl long spells," Jadeja concluded.