Follow UsRavindra Jadeja said that exploiting the variable bounce of the Mohali pitch and the fatigue of Sri Lankan players, was the idea behind India's first innings declaration in the first Test on Saturday.
India declared at 574/8 with Jadeja not out on 175 and Mohammad Shami on 20 and managed to dismiss the top-order wickets to leave the visitors at 108/4 at the end of Day 2.
"I also told them that there is variable bounce and deliveries have started turning. So I sent a message that there is something on offer from the strip and I suggested that we should put them in to bat now itself," Jadeja said at the virtual press conference.
"They were already tired fielding for nearly quarter to two days (five sessions). Since they were tired, it was not easy to play the big shots straightaway and bat for long hours. So plan was to declare quickly and exploit the fatigue of the opposition batters," he added.
Jadeja went past his previous Test high score of 100 not out against West Indies and stitched hundred-plus partnerships with Rishabh Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin. The allrounder stressed on improving his game with every match he plays.
"I look to improve my game every single time I play for India. When I get an opportunity to score runs, I look to implement that opportunity in performance and so yeah, all in all, I am very much happy," he said.
Jadeja, who has three triple centuries in first-class cricket playing for Saurashtra, was happy to have received support from Pant (96), Ashwin (61) and Shami (20 not out).
"I used to bat at No.4 for Saurashtra so I had a lot of time to build my innings but here I bat No.7 but Rishabh, Ashwin and Shami all three supported me. As a batter, I give myself time in shot selection and I select my shot after analysing the behaviour of the strip."