India vs West Indies | Ishant’s two catches changed the game, believes Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja has asserted that Ishant Sharma’s two caught and bowled dismissals, of Kraigg Brathwaite and Shimron Hetmyer, tilted the game in India’s favour. The all rounder also gave his assessment of the pitch saying that it had settled down now but there was still enough for pacers to exploit.
While Ravindra Jadeja garnered all the plaudits for the way he batted with the tail to guide India to a very respectable total on a difficult wicket at North Sound, Ishant Sharma’s impact took the backseat. However, it was the lanky bowler’s ability to play out 62 deliveries that let Jadeja put on some runs at the other end. With the ball in his hand, though, it was Ishant that dominated to bring India back into the game.
The pacer, who finished the day with figures of 5/42 against his name, dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite and Shimron Hetmyer via caught and bowled that Jadeja believed handed India the initiative.
"Ishant bowled well. The two caught and bowled (of Kraigg Brathwaite and Shimron Hetmyer) were remarkable, and I believe those two dismissals were the turning point. For a fast bowler, to take those return catches after so much of bowling is tremendous," Jadeja said after the end of the day’s play, reported PTI.
"On this wicket, you have to bowl in right areas. Ishant's rhythm improved with each over. He was also getting the swing as the ball got older, there was bounce and good carry and I think that helped him. If he did not hold on to two return catches, the situation might have been different. Those two dismissals helped us in turning the momentum into our side."
The pitch has been a disaster for opening batsmen with neither of the top four from either team, with the exception of KL Rahul (44), crossing the 25 run mark. However, Jadeja believes that the pitch has now settled after two days of play but was quick to add that there was still something there for the pacers.
"The wicket has bounce and the ball was also moving a bit in air. The first hour had some moisture and so there was swing and we played well,” Jadeja revealed.
"As the game progressed, the wicket has settled down, but the bounce is still there and it is helping the fast bowlers."