First Test hundred gives you a lot of joy, says Ravindra Jadeja

The first Test match between India and Windies, being played in Rajkot, will be the one to remember for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. After missing out on a Test century narrowly two times in the past, the Gujarat boy finally got to his maiden Test century. 90 in Mohali two years ago, and 86 in England last month was the closest the Rajput man got to a ton.

His celebrations, upon reaching a three digit score for the first time in his Test career, were understandably ecstatic. In reply to India’s 649/9 decl, Windies ended day two at 94/6. The 29-year-old came in to bat when India were in command at 470/5 after skipper Virat Kohli scored his 24th international Test ton.

“After nine years of international cricket I am scoring a hundred, so it is a special moment,” said Jadeja. “Whenever I reached 70-80 in the past I thought about my hundred, but threw my wicket away. I have made big hundreds in the domestic circuit, so I thought I can get hundreds in the international level too. Today I told myself that I need to reach the mark,” he said after the end of day’s play. “I was really happy … whenever you get your first Test hundred it gives you a lot of joy.”

ODI recall after more than a year

Last month, Jadeja was included in India’s squad for the Asia Cup as a replacement for Axar Patel, and in his first outing of the tournament, he picked up four wickets.

“I was playing ODI cricket in the Asia Cup after 15 months, and I needed to make a mark,” he said. “In ODIs, sometimes you bowl well and you don’t get wickets. It was crucial; I got the opportunity and I had to prove myself, for me and not for others. I got my ODI call-up, I got wickets, and I have been enjoying my cricket since then.”

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