India won the first Test by innings and a large margin at Nagpur, with a standout performance from Ravindra Jadeja, who was making his international return after a long absence. As Australia’s second innings fell apart in just half a day on Day 3, India won by innings and 132 runs.
Jadeja had stats of 5/47 and 2/34, and he also scored 70 runs off 185 deliveries. He was ultimately responsible for the dismissal of both Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, who had formed a deadly-looking tandem that had temporarily placed Australia ahead. His 88-run stand with Axar Patel was the last straw that broke Australia’s comeback.
Jadeja elaborated that Australia may have been psychologically undone by all the hype of how much spin would come from the pitch, despite the fact that India had played brilliantly. Some former Australian players and members of the Australian media claimed that India had doctored the pitch to their benefit, but in the end, Australia scored 400 runs and Steve Smith appeared at ease in both of their innings.
“Unko flight se hi rough patches dikh rahe the (They were probably seeing the rough from the flight itself). The atmosphere they created that it would spin; it didn’t spin that much. If we see, they got out more to straight balls. We also got out lbw on straight balls,” Jadeja said on Star Sports.
“This is bound to happen in India because we will obviously play to our team’s strength. Our fast bowlers are also good, but spinners win more matches in India and pick up wickets, so why shouldn’t we go with our strength,” he said.
Ravindra Jadeja said, "they had spotted the rough from the flight itself. The atmosphere they created that it would spin, it didn't spin much. Australia got out more to straight balls".
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