"Quite easy for Jadeja" - Former India coach's big statement on spinner's 4-fer on Day 2 of 1st IND vs SA 2025 Test

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar opined that the Eden Gardens pitch perfectly suits Ravindra Jadeja's style of bowling, which is why he proved lethal on Day 2 of the Test against South Africa. According to Bangar, all Jadeja had to go was land the ball on a particular length and the pitch did the rest for him.

Spinners dominated Day 2 of the first Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday, November 15. Resuming their first innings on 37-1, Team India were bowled out for 189. At stumps, South Africa were 93-7 in their second innings. Off spinner Simon Harmer claimed 4-30 for the Proteas, while Jadeja picked up 4-29 in 13 overs.

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Bangar praised Jadeja for yet another impressive performance. At the same time, he also stated that the surface at Eden Gardens made his task a lot easier. Bangar commented:

"He's got his stock ball sorted and he doesn't really have too many variations. You rarely see him bowl the arm ball. It's just ball in, ball out, over after over. Bowl the same way on a particular length. That has been classic Jadeja for a number of years. When pitches offer so much turn and variable bounce, then it is quite an easy thing for Jadeja to pick up those wickets.

"The best thing a spinner can do is master his stock ball. You do not need any other delivery to pick up a lot of wickets," Bangar went on to add.

Jadeja, who went wicketless in the first innings, has claimed the wickets of Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs so far in South Africa's second innings.

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Ravindra Jadeja joins legends in elite list

During Day 2 of the Kolkata Test against South Africa, Jadeja etched his name in history again, becoming only the fourth all-rounder to complete the double of 4,000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket. Only Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Daniel Vettori have achieved the feat before him.

The left-handed batter reached the landmark when he scored his 10th run in India's first innings. Looking at the Saurashtra cricketer's Test stats after Day 2 in Kolkata, the 36-year-old has scored 4,017 runs at an average of 38.62 and has claimed 342 wickets at an average of 25.04.