Watch: Star all-rounder of Team India Ravindra Jadeja cleans up Steve Smith with Ultra Slow Beauty
The Australian cricket team won the toss and decided to bat first on a slow Chepauk pitch. Jasprit Bumrah drew first blood for India, sending opener Mitchell Marsh back to the pavilion for a duck. Kuldeep Yadav got David Warner out with a caught-and-bowled dismissal. Australia were reduced to 74-2 after 16.3 overs.
Just when it looked like Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne would build a partnership, left-arm spinner Jadeja shed water on their plans with a magical delivery. At the 27.1-over mark, he angled in a delivery to Smith. The ball gripped and turned after pitching, pegging Smith’s off-stump. Smith, who was batting steadily on 46 for 71, got rattled by a jaffa from the tweaker.
Watch the video here.
Jadeja’s plan was highlighted in the TV coverage. His previous two balls were quicker, bowled at close to 100 kph. This came down at 91 kph, allowing for more turns and befuddling Smith.