NEW DELHI: India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja played a big part in keeping the hosts’ unbeaten run intact against South Africa on Sunday, contributing with both bat and ball. Jadeja scored an unbeaten 29, off 15 balls, and took his maiden World Cup five-wicket haul to dismantle the Proteas run chase.
Jadeja's 5 for 33 was only the second World Cup fifer by an Indian spinner after Yuvraj Singh (5/31) achieved the feat in the 2011 edition against Ireland. And the star all-rounder deservedly earned wholehearted praise from his skipper Rohit Sharma after the match. Rohit commended Jadeja's understanding of his role and the team's expectations, acknowledging the all-rounder's significant contribution to the team.
Former Pakistan cricketers also agreed with Rohit's praise and said that on turning pitches Jadeja is a tough bowler to face.
"Thoda sa ball turn hona shuru ho jaye, aur jis pace mein woh ball karte hain. Toh bas uske baad toh bahut mushkil hai [When the ball starts turning a bit and with the pace he bowls. It's very tough to face Jadeja]," Shoaib Malik, former Pakistan captain, said during a discussion on 'A Sports'.
Malik explained why Jadeja's deliveries are tough to negotiate in such conditions.
"Jahaan se who ball karte hain, yeh bahut mushkil ho jata hain. Woh thoda sa wider the crease bowling karta hain and thoda round arm unka action hain. Jab woh ball aise drift hota hai, toh face karna mushkil hai [He bowls from wider the crease with round arm action. And when the ball drifts from that angle, it becomes very difficult to face him]," Malik explained.
1/10:World Cup: Virat Kohli leads India stat attack against South Africa
PTI
2/10:Virat level with Sachin
<p>India's Virat Kohli equalled Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI hundreds as unbeaten World Cup hosts India thrashed fellow semi-finalists South Africa by 243 runs on Sunday. </p>AFP
3/10:Virat Kohli
<p>Virat Kohli's 101 not out was the centrepiece of India's 326/5 before they skittled out South Africa for 83, with Ravindra Jadeja taking 5/33 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. <br /></p>ANI
4/10:49 ODI tons
<p>Sachin Tendulkar took 452 innings to score 49 ODI hundreds while Virat Kohli reached the milestone in 277 innings. </p>PTI
5/10:Virat Kohli vs SA
<p>This was the fifth ODI century for Virat Kohli against South Africa - joint most by a player against them alongside Sachin Tendulkar and David Warner. </p>Getty Images
6/10:Birthday ODI ton
<p>Virat Kohli is the seventh batsman in the world to score an ODI century on his birthday and third to have done it in World Cup games. </p>PTI
7/10:Marco Jansen
<p>Marco Jansen, 9.4-0-94-1, is the most expensive spell by a South Africa bowler in a World Cup game. </p>AP
8/10:Ravindra Jadeja
<p>Ravindra Jadeja's 5/33 is the second best spell for an Indian spinner in World Cups after Yuvraj Singh's 5/31 vs Ireland in Bengaluru 2011. </p>AP
9/10:SA's lowest WC total
<p>83 all out is South Africa's lowest total made at any World Cup and the 243-run loss is their biggest ODI defeat by runs. </p>Reuters
10/10:2nd-lowest ODI total
<p>83 all out is South Africa's second-lowest ODI total, behind their 69 against Australia at Sydney in 1993. </p>IANSBowling legend Wasim Akram compared Jadeja's pace with the one of South Africa's Keshav Maharaj in the match.
"Phir bhi comparison agar dekha jaaye toh main dekh raha tha, jab Maharaj ne jab out kiya hain Gill ko toh uski pace thi 80 to 84 km, aur jab Jadeja ne bol kiya toh I think it was 96 or 98 km. Itna fark tha [If you compare the pace of Maharaj's delivery when he bowled Gill, which was 80-84 kmph, and Jadeja's pace was 96-98 kmph. That's a big difference]," Akram said acknowledging Jadeja's superior pace.
Ex-Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq also added his observation about the rotation of the ball when Jadeja released his deliveries.
"When the ball comes out of Jadeja's hand, we can see the rotation on it. But when Nawaz was bowling it was not rotating on air. It was not spinning while coming out of his fingers," Misbah said comparing Jadeja's delivery with Pakistan spinner Mohammad Nawaz's delivery.
India, who have secured their top spot in the standings with the win against South Africa, will now face the Netherlands in their last league game on November 12.
