Watch: India spinner Ravindra Jadeja cleaned up Steve Smith with a magical turner today (October 8) in the IND vs AUS World Cup 2023 match in Chennai.
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Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Australia started cautiously on a slow Chepauk pitch. Jasprit Bumrah drew first blood for India, sending opener Mitchell Marsh back to the pavilion for a duck. Kuldeep Yadav got David Warner out with a caught-and-bowled dismissal. Australia were reduced to 74-2 after 16.3 overs.
Just when it looked like Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne would build a partnership, left-arm-spinner Jadeja shed water on their plans with a magical delivery. At the 27.1 overs mark, he angled in a delivery to Smith. The ball gripped and turned after pitching, pegging Smith’s off-stump. Smith, who was batting steadily on 46 (71), got rattled by a jaffa from the tweaker.
Jadeja’s plan was highlighted on the TV coverage. His previous two balls were quicker, bowled at close to 100kph. This came down at 91kph, allowing for more turn and befuddling Smith.
Later, in his next over, he made further inroads into Australia’s batting line-up with a double whammy. Labuschagne tried to sweep him off a delivery that was full and around off. The batter missed it as wicketkeeper KL Rahul collected the ball. India appealed and the replay showed there was a clear spike. Labuschagne was dismissed for 27(41). One ball later, freshly at the crease, Alex Carey couldn’t trouble the scorers as he was out for a duck. Carey played down the wrong line and got wrapped around his pads.
Jadeja turned the game on its head with three quick wickets, starting a mini-collapse. Australia were reeling at 119-4 when Carey got dismissed.
Watch Ravindra Jadeja peg Steve Smith’s off-stump | IND vs AUS
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