3rd India-NZ Test: It happened quickly, didn't have time to react, says Jadeja

India did well to keep New Zealand to 235 after the Kiwis had got off to a good start and were coasting at 159/3 in the first innings of the third and final Test at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

They then built a strong start, getting to 78/1 in response.

However, 10 minutes of madness at the end of the day saw them lose the advantage and end Day 1 facing the threat of a rare whitewash at home.

“We didn’t get time to react towards the end. It all happened in a jiffy, within 10 minutes,” said left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who picked five wickets for 65 runs to trigger New Zealand collapse. He had picked wicket Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

But at the end of the day, the advantage he gave was wasted as India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal to a reverse sweep, nightwatchman Mohammed Siraj leg-before (he also burnt a review), and Virat Kohli to a needless run-out.

It was a brain fade moment from all three including from the team management that had decided to send in Siraj, who knows only to use the long handle, and would have been the least ideal to see off the day as nightwatchman.  

“It happens, it is a team game. Can’t blame anyone. People make mistakes. We are 2-0 down that is why it is being talked about so much. If we were 2-0 up, people would have dismissed it just as a small aberration,” added Jadeja.

He, however, emphasised that the remaining batsmen will have to bat well.

“The batsmen who are supposed to come tomorrow morning, we will have to build small partnerships, we’ll try to get close or beyond 230. Then only second innings will come into play. So whoever comes will have to contribute a little.”

The Wankhede Stadium pitch is a turner without doubt.

“The pitch is doing something but we have to bat well. There was not much bounce in Pune. Here there was more bounce and turn. The ball was going well.”

The 35-year-old said that India’s batting in the first innings of both the Test matches has let them down.

“First innings in both Pune and Bengaluru weren’t good. We made the same mistake in both the matches without doubt. We lagged behind from there itself.”

Unless one of the remaining batsmen take up responsibility, it is unlikely India will be able to avoid a whitewash here.

However, India’s batting runs deep unlike New Zealand.

Tags : India, New Zealand, brain fade, 3rd Test, Siraj, Jadeja, Kohli, Mumbai, Wankhede, INDvsNZ