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There was a sense of tension. There was agony under the wraps as well. And ultimately, there was a timely recovery just at the right time that helped India bounce back from a really precarious situation that could have even resulted in a defeat at the Old Trafford, but it wasn't to be. Thanks to a wonderful match-saving and game-reviving stand between Washington Sundar and the evergreen Ravindra Jadeja, two world class all-rounders in the middle, that ultimately helped India's cause in earning the visitors a timely draw. But something ought to be said here.
There are cricketing feats and then, there are feats that tie you to legends who have played the sport. Timeless icons! By hitting a timely, much-needed and match-saving century at Old Trafford in Manchester, India's ace all rounder Ravindra Jadeja now sees him tied next to the great and giant of the sport - Sir Garfield Sobers. So without much of a delay, let us deep dive to appreciate a string of records that India's brilliant Ravindra Jadeja accumulated at the end of the day 5 in Manchester.
Here's a look at the records Ravindra Jadeja shattered with his majestic century at Manchester:
Joint-most prolific fifty-plus scorer
Ravindra Jadeja now has nine fifty plus scores having batted at position six or lower and that special batting feat sees him share the platform in Test cricket with none other than Sir Garfield Sobers of the West Indies.
Most Test runs at 6 or lower in England
In scoring his latest Test century, a valiant three-figure-mark to savour, Jadeja, the eternal batter now has 1000 Test match runs to his name from number 6. The other man to do so, is none other than Sir Sobers, once again.
Most fifties by an Indian batter playing at 6 or lower
Jadeja has struck 5 half centuries from the sixth batting spot in the playing XI and that happens to be the most number of fifties from sixth or lower order batter. This is another record-equalling feat that sees him right next to the famous Test match specialist VVS Laxman. The former right hander from Hyderabad had hit five fifties during India's West Indies tour in 2002.
Record of most fifty-plus scors in SENA countries
Making Test match runs on a consistent basis is anyways a hard task. Then to have hit 12 fifty-plus scores in Test match cricket whilst batting in one of the SENA countries is a feat worth marvelling at and it's exactly something that Jadeja now has to his name, being second only to the great MS Dhoni.
World class consistency
Jadeja has hit several match saving fifties in his career, five on this series and add to it a game changing Test match hundred, one that will be savoured for times to come. Having said that, his true world class all round talent stems from the very fact that he was also constantly among the wickets as seen during this tour.
How was that?
Jadeja with 34 wickets in England, is now only the third ever player from any country to have hit 1000 plus Test runs and taken over 30 wickets in a particular Test-playing nation.
It is a wonderful and masterful feat that with his team under pressure has only raised Jadeja's graph as a cricketer and given world cricket fans a reality check in that they often underestimate a cricketer as talented as the iconic left-hander.
Conclusion
While much of the current Test series from an India perspective is about Shubman Gill and his remarkable consistency, the famed right hander having already struck a century yet again and this time, amid much physical pain, in reality, the real star of India's contests was Ravindra Jadeja and he has been a constant giver of much-needed strength to Team India. Often a talent whose deeds tend to go under the radar for the focus is often on other maybe more marketable and hype-generating players, Jadeja's truly risen as a colossus for India in England.
With another Test to go, he has more to add to his 400 plus Test run tally, which given his latest century is bulging.
