India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s exceptional performance on Day 1 of the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai drew high praise from former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar. Jadeja, who claimed his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, was instrumental in helping India bowl out New Zealand for a modest 235 runs. Manjrekar, who once famously described Jadeja as a "bits-and-pieces" cricketer in a remark that became widely discussed, took to Twitter to commend the all-rounder's vital contribution. Displaying a clear change in tone, Manjrekar expressed his delight over Jadeja’s bowling, crediting him with helping India regain control in challenging conditions on a hot, spin-friendly Mumbai pitch.
The Wankhede Stadium pitch proved challenging from the outset, with variable bounce and sharp turn emerging as the day progressed. Washington Sundar set the pace early on, picking up two crucial wickets—Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra—before lunch, setting the tone for India’s dominant display with the ball. Sundar’s early breakthroughs created the opening for Jadeja to exploit New Zealand’s lineup, and he did just that. Jadeja struck twice before tea, removing Will Young and Tom Blundell in quick succession, and his deliveries began to kick up puffs of dust from the dry surface, indicating the pitch’s increasing turn potential. Despite the tough conditions, New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell mounted a strong defense, scoring a resilient 82 in a valiant effort to stabilize the innings. Battling the Mumbai heat, which reached 37 degrees, Mitchell displayed patience and determination, holding firm even as wickets fell around him.
The day, however, belonged to Jadeja, who achieved a remarkable career milestone by surpassing both Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma to become the fifth-highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket. Jadeja’s milestone 312th wicket came in style when he dismissed Glenn Phillips with a perfectly pitched delivery that darted in sharply with the arm, completely outfoxing the batsman. This wicket placed Jadeja just behind Harbhajan Singh, who claimed 417 wickets in his Test career. In reaching this landmark, Jadeja continues to strengthen his legacy as one of India’s most successful Test bowlers. Known for his accuracy and the ability to extract turn from even minimally responsive surfaces, Jadeja has repeatedly proven to be a match-winner in challenging situations.
Jadeja’s recent accomplishments underline his position as a versatile all-rounder for India. Earlier in the series, he joined an elite club of Indian players who have scored over 3,000 runs and taken 300 wickets in Test cricket—a distinction he shares only with legendary all-rounders Kapil Dev and Ravichandran Ashwin. Notably, Jadeja reached this milestone as the second-fastest all-rounder globally, only behind England’s Ian Botham. This dual skill set has made him an irreplaceable asset for India, especially in the longest format where both his batting and bowling abilities come into play. Over his decade-long career, Jadeja has evolved from being a supporting bowler to a strike option, and his consistency and adaptability have cemented his reputation on the world stage.
India's bowling unit as a whole stepped up on Day 1, giving the hosts a substantial advantage. Washington Sundar and Akash Deep provided excellent support to Jadeja, with Sundar finishing with figures of 4/81, showcasing his potential as a versatile bowler in India’s setup. Deep chipped in with a crucial wicket as well, rounding out a collective effort that limited New Zealand to a competitive but manageable total. For New Zealand, Will Young’s 71 alongside Mitchell’s 82 offered some resistance, as they strived to navigate the difficult pitch conditions and the disciplined Indian attack.
Looking ahead to Day 2, India’s batsmen will be expected to build on the solid foundation laid by their bowlers. The focus will be on captain Rohit Sharma and the top order to stabilize India’s innings and build a lead. With Jadeja and Sundar’s bowling momentum, India holds a psychological advantage. However, Rohit, who has been struggling with form, will face pressure to anchor the innings and deliver a crucial performance. His experience as an opener could be pivotal in steering India to a commanding position, especially given the testing pitch conditions that are expected to become even more spin-friendly as the match progresses.
This match also serves as a preview of the formidable lineup India will field in the upcoming Test series against Australia. With Jadeja in peak form, supported by India’s depth in both spin and pace, the team looks well-prepared for the high-stakes contest. Fans are eagerly watching not only to see how India performs in this Test but also how Jadeja’s continued growth as an all-rounder can potentially impact the course of the Test series against Australia.
