After missing six months of International Cricket, Ravindra Jadeja finally made his way back in Indian colors. He last played a Test back in early 2022, and any form of international Cricket in the Asia Cup back in September. A freakish Skiing injury, a knee injury and one first class game later, Ravindra Jadeja finds himself on the park.

On his comeback to professional Cricket, Ravindra Jadeja took seven. However, Test Cricket remains a different story. Coming into bowl with Marnus Labuschagne, the number one Test batter in the World and Steve Smith, a batter who has tortured India on numerous occasions over the last decade left Jadeja with a huge challenge. The duo were threatening to bring Australia back into the game after Mohammad Shami and Mohammad Siraj rocked the Australians early.

Ravindra Jadeja though comes in and bowls as if he never left. His left-arm angle from around the wicket, the pace, and a length Jadeja has made his trademark is all that was needed for the spinner. He drew Labuschagne forward in typical Jadeja fashion and got the ball ripping past his edge to mark his comeback to Test Cricket.

Within no-time Ravindra Jadeja decieved Labuschagne, in the same manner with which he decieved Michael Clarke back in 2013, to have Labuschagne stumped, breaking the partnership. Before the dismissal, Ravindra Jadeja had a set-up which was seeminlgy unnoticed. He used the natural variation of the surface to get a few balls going wide, and then found one to grip and turn.

The very next ball, Ravindra Jadeja had Matt Renshaw as he got the ball to grip and turn towards the pads, past the outside edge, leaving Renshaw walking off LBW. With two dismissals coming to turn, Ravindra Jadeja managed to induce confusion. Normally, not a bowler who looks to turn the ball much, Ravindra Jadeja’s spin was now in Steve Smith’s mind. Steve Smith, one of the best players against spin ended up playing for turn. Ravindra Jadeja though used the natural variation on offer as the ball went straight through to bowl Smith.

On a track with low-bounce, Jadeja kept the stumps in play which is why he managed to get most of his victims bowled or LBW. Most of his dismissals came in a classic left-arm spinners manner. Ravindra Jadeja though made his action a point of difference. Most left-arm spinners are known to stay wide of the crease. Axar Patel, his spin bowling partner is known for his high release point. Ravindra Jadeja though uses the crease to his advantage, finding various release points and also has a lower arm action resulting in a lower and flatter release point. His pace make the turn contain a lot more bite.

Additionally, Jadeja’s accuracy is an aspect which has been his trademark over the years. His ability to pitch the ball at one spot for hours, and his stamina to bowl long spells make him a relentless opponent. His subtle variations make it very tough for him to be targeted as Ravindra Jadeja finds ways to hide ways in discovering his variations. His bowling style is very hard to describe but can be seen as a relentless style of accurate and quick bowling, drawing batters forward, targeting the stumps and occasionally beating them with both pace and flight.

With 5 wickets in his comeback innings, Jaddu has announced his return. He out bowled his replacement Axar Patel and long-time spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin. He set batters up subtly and dismissed with ease to get close to 250 wickets in Test Cricket. As a left-arm spinner with more than 150 wickets, there is nobody with an average as low as his, with Ravindra Jadeja managing to average below 25, very close to Ravichandran Ashwin, indicating his skill as the best in the Indian Team along with Ravichandran Ashwin.

A five for to send Australia packing helps India start the tour in dominating fashion. With close to 250 wickets at an average below 25, the underappreciated an unrelenting star of the Indian Team serves a reminder as to why he is one of India’s most effective bowlers.