Ravindra Jadeja's stunning catch became the highlight at tea on day two of the second Test at the Hagley Oval on Sunday as India bowled New Zealand out for 235, taking a slender lead of seven runs.
After being reduced to 142/5 at lunch, Kiwi pacers Kyle Jamieson (49) and Neil Wagner (21) shared a 51-run for the ninth wicket before Jadeja took a stunning catch at deep square leg, leaping high and plucking the ball out of thin air showing extraordinary reflexes to get rid of Wagner.
The allrounder was immediately surrounded by his teammates as all of them basked in his fielding brilliance. The effort left Wagner flabbergasted too. At tea, Jadeja said he was expecting Neil Wagner to score heavily in the square leg region, but never thought the ball would come at that pace.
This catch from India's Ravi Jadeja is indescribable. Have a feeling it'll make tonight's #SCTop10. (cc: @SportsCenter) #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/I62klS69jX— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) March 1, 2020
"I was expecting him (Wagner) to score towards deep square leg. But I didn't expect the ball to come at that pace. It came so quickly with the wind and I just stuck my hand out. I didn't even realise when I took the catch. We bowled well as a unit. We will look to bat well and bowl them out again," he said.
The video of Jadeja going airborne to pluck the stunner was shared by cricket fans on micro-blogging site Twitter with astonishment.
That, right there, from Jadeja, is one of the best catches you’ll see. Insane stuff. #NZvsIND pic.twitter.com/gLTg296Rdm— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) March 1, 2020
Not having this guy in your team should be a crime under the Indian Penal Code. #INDvNZ #Jadeja pic.twitter.com/JraoHosdCT— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) March 1, 2020
Jadeja can catch everything. No wonder his home ground is called Rajcaught. #NZvInd pic.twitter.com/cxilp9Q7gx— Sagar (@sagarcasm) March 1, 2020
Is he a Bird? #Jadeja #Catch #IndvsNZ— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) March 1, 2020
Jadeja just makes things happen. What a stunning catch!#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/7ReICRpCh0— ` (@FourOverthrows) March 1, 2020
What a catch @imjadeja - you beauty! Body that defies coordinaton and elasticity #NZvsIND #Jadeja pic.twitter.com/POWV7CYI2G— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) March 1, 2020
Sir Jadeja for a reason! Jadeja Airlines, flying high! ✈️ Terrific stuff, @imjadeja! #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/wn6WyVmhbA— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 1, 2020
Close Enough..Sir jadeja !❤🔥 pic.twitter.com/JyVRcwu9A4— Troll CSK Haters™ (@CSKFansArmy) March 1, 2020
No way! No! No way! You cannot do that Ravindra Jadeja! pic.twitter.com/ktcufmIcZC— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) March 1, 2020
Oh my!😮 Ravindra Jadeja what a catch!! 🏏 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/8teJXRM728— James (@Surreycricfan) March 1, 2020
No Way!No... No Way!You can not do that!You can not do that Sir Jadeja!What a catch... What a fielder 🔥@imjadeja #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/eoA8T9CI7j— Cricket (@Cricket_Lover07) March 1, 2020
(With IANS inputs)