Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja said that a possible defeat in the series against South Africa will have no impact on the Test series to be held in Sri Lanka in August next year. He stressed that a draw in the second Test would be a ‘victory’ for the young team.
India are almost certain to lose the two-Test series against South Africa as the target of 549 runs will be impossible to achieve on the last day. After the end of the fourth day’s play, Jadeja told reporters, “I don’t think it will have any impact on the next series.” But as a cricketer, no one wants to lose a series, especially in India. So hopefully we will try to play our best cricket. We will try to give our best tomorrow.
He said, “We will try to save the Test match. Even if we are not winning the series, we can draw the match which will be a win-win situation for us.” Jadeja, who will turn 37 in the next few weeks, believes that losing the series against South Africa will be a valuable learning point for the young players in the Indian team.
The host team has many young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel and Washington Sundar who are in the early stages of their Test career. Jadeja said, “Look at the young players in the team, I think they are in the learning phase. His career is starting. In international cricket, no matter which format you play, it is not easy. No matter what format you play, it is always a bit challenging.
Jadeja said that whenever a team loses at home, the lack of experience of the youth makes more headlines than when it wins. He said, “When there is such a situation in India and you play three-four young players in the team, it seems that the entire team is young and less experienced. And it is made headlines.
Jadeja said, “But when India wins at home, people think it is no big deal. But if you lose a series in India, it becomes a big deal.” He said, ”It is a learning period for a youngster. If he handles this situation well, he will mature as a player and India’s future will be better.
No one can deny that cricket is a game based on conditions and when Bhatar batted in the first innings the conditions were not favourable. Jadeja said, “To be honest, as a bowler, when we were bowling for the first two days, there were no marks on the wicket. The wicket was shining like glass.
He said, “And when they came to bowl, the spinners got more opportunities because of the fast bowlers taking wickets and their ball was turning and bouncing.” Jadeja said that after India fell by 288 runs in the first innings, South Africa batted without worrying about the conditions in the second innings.
Jadeja agreed that losing the toss played a role in both the games. He said, “Winning or losing the toss is a part of the game but it has an impact on the game. When you are bowling for the first time, when nothing is happening on the wicket, you will feel that the spinners are normal and ordinary.
Jadeja said, “But when you are 300 runs ahead and you are bowling, you will see that every bowler will look bigger.” Jadeja wants the batsmen to forget the last four days and just focus on the last day’s play.