Kane’s wicket was game-changer: Ravindra Jadeja

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who tormented the New Zealand batsmen with his five-for, said it was Kane Williamson’s dismissal by R. Ashwin in the morning session which proved to be a game-changer for the hosts.

Ashwin bowled a peach of a delivery to castle the Kiwi captain as India reduced the visitors from overnight 152/1 to 238/5 by lunch on Day Three of the first Test at Green Park.

“We knew that it is Kane who can really bat for long in their line-up. The plan was to get him out. We know others can’t bat for long hours. We got four wickets in the morning session and that was game-changing,” Jadeja said.

Asked to speak about the ball that got Williamson out, Jadeja said, “It was a good ball. It came through the bat and pad. It was a fantastic ball.”

Jadeja was seen talking to coach Anil Kumble before the start of play. The spinner said he received a lot of tips from the stalwart, who is the format’s third highest-wicket taker in the world.

“He asked me to bowl in rough areas and look for angles and bowling from wide off the crease. There were a lot of footmarks around the off stump area. He told me that those marks will have a bearing on the minds of the batsmen,” he said.

Jadeja and Ashwin were bowling well in tandem on Friday before the skies opened up and washed out the final session.