The spinners may have been dominant through the Test series, but Feroz Shah Kotla has accorded opportunities for batsmen and as well as fast bowlers
Ravindra Jadeja
New Delhi: The spinners may have been dominant through the Test series, but Feroz Shah Kotla has accorded opportunities for batsmen and as well as fast bowlers.
Also read: Kotla Test - Virat Kohli hits unbeaten 83 as India consolidate position
Ravindra Jadeja. Pic/AFP
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Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have been amongst the runs, whereas Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott have made the ball talk. Ravindra Jadeja, the Indian left-arm spinner, feels the pitch for the fourth Test at New Delhi is a lot better than the one at Nagpur.
"As the game progresses, the wicket will get worse — so we are in a good position. Now we need to get them out in the 2nd innings. I think this is a far better wicket than the one at Nagpur," Jadeja said.
In the first innings, it was his spell of five for 30 that shot South Africa for 121. While making runs on this wicket hasn't been easy, India have shown that it is possible if one spends time in the middle.
Jadeja feels India's good overall performance has helped them dominate and not the wicket as such.
"We are playing two spinners and they are also playing two. Moreover they are employing four spinners while we are using only two. I don't think there's anything special in the wicket," Jadeja said.
Also read: Ravindra Jadeja's five leaves South Africa high and dry
Although India had a 213-run lead at the end of Day Two, they decided against enforcing the follow-on. Jadeja said he doesn't have an idea about a possible target. Kohli and Rahane batted out the day and were sedate in their approach. With two days to go, India have time on their hands to plan a declaration.
"I knew that we needed to bat well (in second innings) so that when their second innings comes, we should be in such a strong position that even if they have a partnership, we can freely bowl," Jadeja said.