Jadeja web ST

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Indian all-rounder Ravindra emerged as a star performer against England on Day 1 of the fifth and final Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. While Indian batters were struggling to find momentum and the visitors were reduced to 98/5 in 27.5 overs, Jadeja paired up with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant to stitch a 222-run partnership for the sixth wicket. The 33-year-old smashed his maiden Test ton away from home as he put India in a commanding position.

World number one Test all-rounder was at his best against Ben Stokes-led side and demonstrated his batting prowess as he hit 13 boundaries to score 104 in 194 deliveries. Jadeja was widely applauded for his superb batting tactics which included a supporter's role when Rishabh Pant was in the driving seat and smashed the fastest Test century by any Indian wicket-keeper. Later Jadeja played brilliantly with tailenders to help India post a mammoth 416 on the board.

After the end of play on Day 1, England's veteran pacer James Anderson, who bagged his sixth fifer against India, lauded the Indian all-rounder for his incredible batting and claimed that Jadeja made the day difficult for England bowlers. "In the past, he was coming at 8, a bat with the tail so he had to chance his arm a little bit, whereas now at 7 he can bat like a proper batter. He leaves well and made it difficult for us,” Anderson told the press.

Responding to Anderson's praise, Jadeja took a sly dig at the England bowler and stated that he is happy that Englishman realised this after 2014. "Whenever a cricketer score runs, everyone praises him and starts considering him a proper batter, but I have always tried to give myself time at the crease, to stitch a crucial partnership with whoever is at the crease to play with. It’s nice Anderson has realized that after 2014," he told the press.

Notably, Jadeja and Anderson were earlier involved in a controversial altercation in the opening Test of India's tour in 2014. The England pacer was also charged with a level 3 offence for allegedly pushing and abusing Jadeja during a clash in the corridor when the teams were making the way back into the pavilion. An official complaint was launched against the England pacer by the then-team manager Sunil Dev to the match referee.