India vs Australia, World Cup 2023: 'It was Test match wicket,' says Ravindra Jadeja

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Using his years of experience of playing at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, aka Chepauk, with Chennai Super Kings, Ravindra Jadeja said he stuck to a stump-to-stump line against Australia on a rank turner, calling it a "Test match strip" in his man-of-the-match effort in India's win.

Ravindra Jadeja spell of 3/28 was the highlight of the match as he dismissed Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to start the Australian batting collapse. The Kangaroos put some semblance of respect to the total as they put 199 in 49.3 overs, which India chased down in 41.2 overs.

Asked about his plan on a track where the ball turned and gripped, Ravindra Jadeja said: "The way I started the first over, the ball was stopping after it pitched. The wicket looked dry in the afternoon when it was hot.

"I thought the stump line would be good as some balls would dart in while some would turn. So, it won't be easy for the batsman. While a couple of balls stayed straight, the one that got Smith turned appreciably.

"My plan was to bowl on the stump and luckily the ball to Smith turned more. I thought this was a typical Test match wicket. We should not do any experiment and bowl stump-to-stump," he said.

Quizzed how different was his role from that of Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav, his smile invoked laughter.

"There is no role. Only role is to get as many wickets as quickly as we could. On that wicket, all the three (spinners) would have thought the same: 'I should get more wickets'. And if that's in your mind, it's not wrong. If everyone is thinking like this, then the opposition team will be bowled out quickly," said the 34-year-old all-rounder.

He did agree that Smith's dismissal was the turning point. "I think that was the turning point...a wicket like that of Steve Smith. From there onwards, it was not easy to come and rotate the strike for the new batters.

"So from there, they were 110 for 2 and became 199 all-out. I know the conditions in Chennai. I have been playing here (for CSK) since 10-11 years. I know how the conditions in this ground work. I enjoyed and whatever I contribute to the team I always feel happy."

- With inputs from PTI