India spinners, in the past, have always been a huge force in world cricket and the current crop of India spinners including Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have formed a strong partnership. The duo played an important role in helping India win its historic 500th Test, against New Zealand at Green Park in Kanpur.
Jadeja managed to scalp six wickets in the first Test against New Zealand, and Ashwin was instrumental in both the innings with the red ball. Ashwin finished with 10 wickets, but it was Jadeja, who also scored an important 42 runs (first innings) and 50 (second), which helped him win the man of the match award as well.
The all-rounder praised Ashwin as the spinner became the second fastest bowler in the world to claim 200 Test wickets (in 37 Test matches). The Tamil Nadu man broke Waqar Younis and Denis Lillee's record as they had achieved the feat in 38 matches.
Jadeja also opened up about the chemistry of bowling in tandem with Ashwin, as the duo talked about strategies during the match as well.
"Ashwin is a very good bowler on slow turning tracks and I would like to congratulate him for 200 wickets. I'm enjoying bowling with him, and whenever wicket was not falling we always talk about what to do. We enjoy each other's company. In the first innings, when Williamson was batting, we used to talk about bowling over or around, bowling fast or slow," Jadeja said in the presentation ceremony.
Though both the bowlers did their role with the ball, Jadeja's contribution with the bat in both the innings was solid from the left-hander. The slow left-arm has justified his selection, ahead of Amit Mishra, with an all-round performance. Jadeja was ''happy'' with his performance in Kanpur.
"Very happy. Just preparing to do my role with the bat, give myself time and then I can play my shots. Duleep final helped me a lot, I was getting wickets in that game too, I was very confident. I'm used to bowling on such wickets, on turning tracks. That's what I was focused on. I was enjoying myself. The wicket was pretty slow in the first innings. I think we tried and mixed the pace, fast, slow," said Jadeja.
