Ravindra Jadeja’s Kuldeep Yadav imitation amuses Gautam Gambhir during warm-up
Lighthearted Moment in Colombo
During India’s warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo, Ravindra Jadeja provided a moment of amusement by imitating Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling action. The playful act, captured on video, occurred on Day 2 of the match and drew laughter from head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Jadeja’s near-perfect rendition of the wrist-spinner’s action, complete with expressions and run-up, was described by a commentator as a direct imitation of Kuldeep Yadav. Gambhir’s reaction, seen laughing heartily, added to the light-hearted atmosphere within the Indian camp.
Match Progress and Player Contributions
The warm-up match served as important preparation for India ahead of their upcoming Test series. Amidst the fun, players were gaining valuable exposure to the conditions, particularly on pitches where spin is anticipated to play a significant role as the matches progress. Both Jadeja and Kuldeep are expected to have key roles with the ball.
On the cricketing front, Devdutt Padikkal made a strong case for inclusion in India’s opening Test playing XI. He scored an unbeaten 142, taking advantage of a batting-friendly surface. His innings included 18 boundaries, and he appeared comfortable against both pace and spin bowling.
After Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed early, Padikkal and KL Rahul formed a 96-run partnership for the second wicket. Padikkal continued his impressive performance alongside Jadeja, reaching his century in just 121 balls. India concluded the second day with a score of 357/6 in 90 overs.
Jadeja also contributed with the bat, scoring a valuable 63 before retiring. He provided stability after early wickets, allowing the lower order to settle. Jadeja’s innings included seven fours and was scored off 117 deliveries.
Earlier in the match, Jadeja had a productive outing with the ball, securing figures of 2/64 from 15 overs. He dismissed Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Ramesh Mendis. Kuldeep also claimed 2/76 from 18 overs, removing Ahan Wickramasinghe and Anjala Bandara. Manav Suthar impressed with 2/33 from 13 overs.
Partnerships and Recovery
Sri Lanka Cricket XI declared their innings at 363/8, setting a target for India. Jadeja’s contribution with the bat, alongside Manav Suthar, was crucial in helping India close the gap. Suthar scored 41 and later an unbeaten 29, demonstrating patience and hitting three fours and a six against the spinners.
The partnership between Jadeja and Suthar helped India recover from a score of 180/5 at tea. Jadeja eventually retired out at 63, allowing other batsmen to spend time at the crease. Suthar continued to hold firm as India aimed to reach parity with the SLC XI total.
Devdutt Padikkal later returned to the crease and added four more boundaries alongside Saransh Jain, who retired after scoring 22. Despite some struggles from other batsmen, the contributions from Padikkal, Jadeja, and Suthar ensured India remained competitive in the match.
Rishabh Pant had a brief stay at the crease, scoring only two before being caught at long-off while attempting an attacking shot against Ramesh Mendis. Dhruv Jurel also struggled, scoring one before falling to off-spin. Suthar then joined Jadeja to add 76 runs, further repairing the innings.
The warm-up match provided valuable practice for India, with the opening Test scheduled to commence on August 15 at the Galle International Stadium.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
