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.
After winning the toss, Australia elected to bat first and started cautiously on the slow Chepauk pitch. Jasprit Bumrah opened the scoring for India, sending opener Mitchell Marsh back to the pavilion for a duck. Kuldeep Yadav caught David Warner and bowled him out. Australia fell to 74-2 in 16.3 overs.
Just when Stephen Smith and Marnus Labuschagne looked like they were going to form a partnership, left-arm spinner Jadeja spoiled their plans with a magical performance. In 27.1 overs, he bowled to Smith. He grabbed the ball after the pitch and spun it, blocking Smith’s off-stump. Smith was steady, scoring 46 (71) RBIs, but was rattled by adjuster Jaffa.
Jadeja’s plan was featured in television reports. His last two balls were even faster, bowling at almost 100km/h. The speed was reduced to 56 mph, allowing more turns, which confused Smith.
He then penetrated the Australian batting line-up further with a double in the next over. Mr. Labuschagne tried to clear him out of the already nearly full delivery van. The batsman missed when wicketkeeper KL Rahul retrieved the ball. India appealed and replays showed there had been a significant increase. Labuschagne was sent off at 27 (41). Then, turning the ball over, Alex Carey ducked and was unable to trouble the scorer. Carey played the wrong line and wound up over the pads.
Jadeja turned the game around with three quick wickets, causing a mini-collapse. Australia were reeling at 119-4 when Carey was dismissed.
Watch Ravindra Jadeja peg Steve Smith’s off-stump | IND vs AUS
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