Ravindra Jadeja Becomes The Quickest To Reach 200 Test Wickets Among Left-Arm Bowlers

Team India finally got the much-needed breakthrough as left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja got the better of Dean Elgar after a fine knock of 160 runs. With that, the veteran all-rounder from Saurashtra scaled a massive record in Test cricket.

After putting a mammoth first innings total of 502 runs before declaring, India took an early advantage claiming three crucial wickets to have South Africa at 39 for three at the end of day 2. While many thought that the host will run over the Proteas batting, the visitors had other plans.

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Dean Elgar, who looked rock-solid in the last hour of day two, started day three in his own elements. Although Ishant Sharma got Temba Bavuma out, the southpaw kept the scoreboard ticking. He partnered skipper Faf du Plessis to South Africa before joining hands with Quinton de Kock.

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They added 164 runs for the sixth wicket and in the process, Elgar brought his century while de Kock also marched towards his first against India in Tests. After dominating the whole, Ravindra Jadeja finally got the better of Dean Elgar to claim his 200th Test wicket.

The left-arm spinner bowled a flighted delivery inducing Elgar to go over the top after a tight over from Ravichandran Aswin. The South African miscued the shot and top-edged it. Cheteshwar Pujara took a brilliant catch as he ran from the mid-wicket, dived forward and then stretched his hands to grab the catch as the Indians breathed a sigh of relief.

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With the wicket of Elgar, Ravindra Jadeja became the fastest left-arm bowler to scale 200 Test wickets. Jadeja claimed in 44 Tests; thus leapfrogging Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath, who achieved the milestone in 47 matches. Mitchell Johnson (49), Mitchell Starc (50), and Wasim Akram and Bishen Singh Bedi (51) complete the top five.

Meanwhile, India will have to cash in on the momentum and claim a few more wickets to bounce back in the game.