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Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja dedicated his Man of the Match award from the third Test against England to his wife, Rivaba. This touching gesture by Jadeja comes days after his father Anirudhsinh alleged that the cricketer started behaving differently with his family after his marriage. Jadeja put in an outstanding performance in his hometown of Rajkot to lead India to a massive 434-run victory at the newly named Niranjan Shah Stadium. The victory gave India a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. This was Team India’s second convincing win after starting with a shock defeat in the series opener in Hyderabad.
“This is a special Man of the Match in my house. I would like to dedicate this award to my wife. She has been working hard behind the scenes, mentally. She always gives me confidence,” Jadeja said in a video released by BCCI.
Days before the third Test began, Jadeja had publicly defended his wife Rivaba hours after her father’s allegations. “The things mentioned in the dubious interview with Divya Bhaskar are meaningless and false. They are one-sided comments which I deny. The attempt to tarnish my wife’s image is inappropriate and condemnable. I too have a lot to say, but it is better that don’t reveal those things in public,” Jadeja had said on X (formerly Twitter).
Jadeja’s stellar bat and bowl show in Rajkot
Batting at 33/3, Jadeja formed a record two-century partnership with captain Rohit Sharma (131) to not only get India out of trouble but also put them in a position of strength. Jadeja also formed another good partnership with Sarfaraz Khan. The left-hander finished with 112. This was his fourth Test century. India scored 445 in their first innings. Jadeja took two wickets with the ball in England’s first innings, including that of Ben Stokes.
In England’s second innings, Jadeja was simply unplayable, taking 5/41 to help India bowl out England for 122.
“It’s a special feeling to take a 5-wicket haul in the second innings. And that too, a hundred and a 5-wicket haul in the same Test is special,” he added.
Yashasvi Jaiswal highlighted the importance of first innings knocks from Jadeja and Rohit, who smashed 214 in the second innings.
“The way Rohit bhai and Jaddu bhai played in the first innings motivated me a lot. Because the passion was there, the conversation was there, they were determined to play session after session and when I was inside (the dressing room) I kept thinking that when go there I have to make it worth it,” Jaiswal was quoted as saying by ICC.
“The way they talked about the game, the way they motivated us, I think it’s amazing to see them trying so hard,” Jaiswal added.