“The actual hero was Ravindra Jadeja” – Sanjay Manjrekar on Team India’s victory against Australia

Team India defeated Australia in the first ODI at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai by 5 wickets. Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was the actual hero in a rather one-sided game.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Sanjay Manjrekar was all praise for Ravindra Jadeja after his all-round performance in the first ODI against Australia.

Sanjay Manjrekar praises Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round performance

“This was one of India’s best bowling performances in white-ball cricket in a long, long time. The way Mitchell Marsh was playing and the start they got, all of us were thinking that the par score might be 350. Yes, Shami and Siraj picked up wickets, but I feel the actual hero was Ravindra Jadeja,” said Sanjay Manjrekar on Star Sports.

“Mitchell Marsh’s wicket and then Marnus Labuschagne’s catch. They were the turning points. If those wickets had not come, they had so much depth and power in their batting that they would have reached close to 350,” the former Indian batter further explained the reason behind his comment.

Ravindra Jadeja scalped two wickets for the Men in Blue including the wicket of Aussie opener Mitchell Marsh who played a stellar knock of 81 runs in just 65 deliveries. After the dismissal of Marsh, the Indian bowlers didn’t allow any Aussie batter to settle on the pitch.

Jadeja also took a blinder to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne on the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav. The all-rounder made a full-length dive at the short third-man position and grabbed a stunning catch which further put on the brakes on the Australian innings.

Australia was once placed at 129-2 in the 20th over. Mitchell Marsh and Marnus Labuschagne had made a formidable 52-run partnership for the third wicket. Ravindra Jadeja’s contribution in dismissing both these batters put the Indian team in the driver’s seat.

Ravindra Jadeja came in to rescue the Indian batting lineup after the Indian team was placed at 83-5. The premier all-rounder, along with KL Rahul, made a 108-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Courtesy of the two batters, the Men in Blue went on to comfortably chase down the target within 40 overs as India defeated Australia by 5 wickets.