Mumbai, December 3: Discarded India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was more in the news last season for the amount he fetched in the IPL auctions for season 5. Chennai Super Kings, owned by BCCI president N Srinivasan, bagged the Saurashtra cricketer for an astronomical $2 million (Rs 9.72 crore approx) after winning the tie-breaker that followed a theatrical bidding war with Deccan Chargers.
On Sunday though, he made news for his on-field exploits. The left-hander scored 320 not out against Railways at Rajkot and became the first Indian to post three first-class triple hundreds, surpassing the feats of Vijay Hazare, Raman Lamba, VVS Laxman, Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag.
Jadeja had scored 303 against Gujarat at Surat last month. His first triple ton was registered against Orissa (314 ) at Cuttack last November. While Sehwag's triple tons have come at the Test level, both Jaffer and Laxman's epics have come in the Ranji Trophy.
What's more, Jadeja ensured that his name will be mentioned in the same breath as that of Don Bradman as he became only the eighth man in history to have three 300-plus scores in first-class cricket, joining Bradman, Brian Lara, Bill Ponsford, Wally Hammond, WG Grace, Graeme Hick and Mike Hussey.
Jadeja hit 28 fours and seven sixes during his marathon 11-and-a-half-hour knock, facing 491 deliveries. "It's a tremendous achievement," exclaimed out-of-favour Indian opener and Mumbai stalwart Jaffer.
"To score two triple hundreds in a season, which is just five matches old, is not a joke. He was always rated highly, but was known more as a swashbuckling batsman who was a good bowler and exceptional fielder.
"But he has worked on his game and this spell out of the Indian team seems to have made him hungrier and has forced him to work harder," Jaffer added.
Saurashtra coach Debu Mitra, who has worked with players like Jadeja and rising India star Cheteshwar Pujara since their under-19 days and who has been with the side since nine years, endorses that view.
"He doesn't get satisfied easily these days and wants to work hard. He keeps telling me to watch him in the nets and even when I tell him that all is fine, he will ask, 'Sir, dekho kuch gadbad to nahin (See is there is a problem with my batting )," Mitra said.
Jadeja, who has represented India in 58 ODIs and 12 T20s, hasn't yet played Tests. Coach Mitra says the One-day tag is unfair to him. "He is ready for Tests as he is willing to show patience and can bat for long periods. His bowling too has improved a lot as his 13 wickets in four matches show."
Deconstructing his ward's knock, Mitra said: "As we were 90 for 4, I had told him, bahar ka ball mat khelna (leave outgoing deliveries). Of the 491 deliveries he faced, he must have left close to 200. That's application. The only time he got aggressive was when he was approaching his double hundred. But he settled down again. He wants to score big hundreds these days."
Jadeja hails from Jamnagar, a city known for its big oil companies.
His recent cricketing feats have only made the city, 337 kms west of Gujarat capital Gandhinagar, that much slicker.
BATTING ON & ON...
Ravindra Jadeja, with his unbeaten 320 vs Railways in a Ranji Trophy match, has become the first Indian batsman to post three triple hundreds in first-class cricket. Jadeja is also the top run-scorer in the Ranji Trophy this season, with 645 runs at 161.25 in four matches.
EARLIER TRIPLE TONS
314 vs Orissa at Cuttack in Nov 2011
303 not out vs Gujarat at Surat in Nov 2012
FIRST-CLASS BATTING RECORD
Match 42, Runs 3017, Ave 53.87, 100s 7, 50s 10
OTHERS WITH THREE OR MORE TRIPLE TONS IN FIRST-CLASS CRICKET
Don Bradman (6), Bill Ponsford and Wally Hammond (4 each), WG Grace, Graeme Hick, Brian Lara, Mike Hussey (3 each).
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