Watch: Ravindra Jadeja’s half century celebration and Virat Kohli’s epic response

It will be right to say that after the first innings slump, Team India bounced back by dismissing New Zealand for 262. India then displayed the class in batting as Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay got together again for a century stand and piled on the lead, all the while turning the tables in the hosts favor.

The start of the 4th day, however, more so the first session belonged to the Black Caps as they took 3 wickets and looked set to diminish their 4th innings target. India, on the other hand, were looking for a target surpassing the 400-run mark which didn’t seem a mountain too far considering the depth in India’s batting order.

While Kohli departed early for just 18, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane stayed put, playing dangerously against the spin of Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner until Rahane edged one to Ross Taylor at the slips as he was unable to read the slowness of the wicket-taking delivery thus falling prey to the deception. Then on, the remainder of the day belonged to India.

Rohit Sharma found his rhythm on beckoning him to drive down the cover region plenty of times. He was joined by Ravindra Jadeja who unlike his prolonged and interminable stints at the batting crease when it comes to the Ranji Trophy, has taken a liking to swift and instantaneous innings in the international arena which seems to be more accustomed to his role as a bowler and yet, time and again he displays his batting prowess which has fetched him 3 triple centuries in the Ranji Trophy.

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Jadeja walked out today with a mission, that was of extending India’s lead swiftly in a manner that leaves the hosts with ample time to bowl out the opposition for a victory. Jadeja sure didn’t disappoint the crowd which was pouring in by this time to catch some of the proceedings towards the end of the day’s play. Santner and Sodhi’s spin seemed to be diminishing as the turn and bounce was predictable for Jadeja, allowing him to dance down the wicket plenty of times.

A momentary calm seemed to exist for him as soon enough, Jadeja played a lofty shot down the wicket for a six and the bowler’s esteem went for a toss. Jadeja’s 58-ball fifty was laced with 2 fours and 3 sixes and as he went into a gig of his own, twirling and circling his bat in a gyrating fashion, all the while his eyes transfixed at the Pavilion where skipper Virat Kohli was frantically displaying his declaration and calling his boys back. Kohli laughed on seeing Jadeja’s gyratory celebration and mimicked him while calling him back.

Their long distance banter at the heat of affairs is proof of the camaraderie shared by these two, having played a lot of their youth cricket together, also having graduated to the senior team around the same time. As India took a firm hold of the match by establishing a target of 434 runs and Ashwin reaching his 200 wicket milestone, in the process taking 3 prized scalps, the 5th day promises a great day of cricket, we could go on to win the 500th Test match.

Watch: Ravindra Jadeja’s half century celebration and Virat Kohli’s epic response:

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