"Over the moon for my favorite cricketer" - Sanjay Manjrekar hails Ravindra Jadeja for five-wicket haul on Day 1 of 3rd IND vs NZ Test 2024
Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar hailed left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja for picking up a five-wicket haul on the opening day of the third New Zealand Test in Mumbai on November 1. The 35-year-old had struggled with the ball thus far in the series, picking up only six wickets in four innings as India surrendered the opening two Tests in Bengaluru and Pune.
However, Jadeja returned to his best with the ball, producing figures of 5/65 in 22 overs to derail New Zealand's first innings. The Blackcaps collapsed from 159/3 to 235 all-out with Jadeja picking up five of the seven wickets in that stretch.
Following the veteran spinner's game-changing spell, Manjrekar took to his X handle and posted:
"Over the moon for my favorite cricketer, Jadeja. A fifer! He needed that! And so did the team."
Manjrekar and Jadeja clashed over the years after the former once referred to the Indian all-rounder as a 'bits and pieces' cricketer. However, the former Indian batter has reserved high praise for Jadeja in recent years and the trend continued with his latest post.
Meanwhile, the five-wicket haul was Jadeja's 14th overall and 12th at home in Tests.
"Felt good that I got wickets when the team needed a breakthrough" - Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja was elated with his bowling performance on Day 1 of the third New Zealand Test that saw him become India's fifth all-time leading wicket-taker in Tests.
The 35-year-old leapfrogged Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan on 311 wickets each to move to 314 after his stunning spell. Jadeja now trails Anil Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kapil Dev, and Harbhajan Singh for the most Test wickets by an Indian.
Speaking to the host broadcasters at stumps on Day 1, Jadeja said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo:
"Taking a five-wicket haul for India is always special. I felt good that I got wickets when team needed a breakthrough. Especially in that heat. The team did well collectively. (Crossing Zaheer and Ishant) Didn't know that. When a series starts, I don't see how many wickets I have. I only see these when I'm not playing cricket and at home. Good that I'm making progress and taking wickets."
Coming to the game in hand, India stumbled with the bat again after dismissing New Zealand for a sub-par total of 235 in their first innings.
The hosts finished the opening day on 86/4 in 19 overs, losing three quick wickets in the final 15 minutes to collapse from a dominant 78/1.