Published By: Sayan Guha

IND vs NZ Test: Tracking Jadeja's Journey from His First Test Wicket to Breaking into India's Top Five with His 312th

Ravindra Jadeja’s rise in Test cricket has been a tale of persistence, craft, and unforgettable milestones

Ravindra Jadeja made history on the first day of the Mumbai Test match against New Zealand. With his 312th wicket, the all-rounder proudly became the fifth-highest wicket-taker in India’s illustrious Test cricket history, surpassing both Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan, who each took 311 wickets. 

With Anil Kumble (619), Ravichandran Ashwin (533), Kapil Dev (434), and Harbhajan Singh (417) in front of him, his path to this level has been extraordinary, filled with landmarks and turning points that have moulded the man who pulls off the remarkable achievement. Those who have followed Jadeja since his 2012 debut have found his ascent to be both exciting and challenging.

But how did he get to this revered list that includes legends like Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev? Here’s a walkthrough of Jadeja’s journey, marked by the unforgettable wickets that propelled him to greatness.

Jonathon Trott begins the tally

A youthful Jadeja took the pitch for the Test match against England in Nagpur back in December 2012. Nerves? Of course. Willpower? Definitely. Jonathan Trott of England was his first victim, bowled out for 44. Jadeja’s left-arm spin had spun the right web, and Jadeja’s first mark on Test cricket was Trott’s departure. Jadeja’s silent announcement to the cricket world was that he had arrived, prepared to defeat the titans and leave his own mark. 

A 100 with a ball

When Jadeja hit a century of Test wickets, the stadium in Mumbai was a hive of activity. Alastair Cook, the captain of England, was his 100th victim. Cook was briefly out of answers because of Jadeja’s flat delivery, which stranded him leg before in a match already jam-packed with records. Hawk-Eye verified the obvious, but a review ensued. Watching the red lights seal his destiny, Cook was caught aback by the delivery, which was a masterpiece in accuracy. Jadeja had started to appear like the player India could trust after reaching 100 wickets. 

The 200 Mark

Dean Elgar got Jadeja's 200th wicket on the third day of the first Test match against South Africa in 2019. Elgar missed the delivery while attempting a sweep, which sent the ball flying to mid-wicket. Another great moment in Jadeja's career was when Cheteshwar Pujara secured the catch with a brilliant forward dive.Only eight Indian bowlers have ever reached the 200 mark in Test cricket, and Jadeja became the fastest left-arm bowler to do it with this wicket.

300: A Milestone Etched in Kanpur’s Dust

Jadeja achieved another milestone at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium when he took out Bangladesh’s Khaled Ahmed, his 300th Test wicket. Jadeja’s name entered the pantheon of renowned Indian all-rounders, being the third player to score 3000 runs and take 300 wickets.

The Magic 312: Making room into the top 5

In Mumbai, Jadeja achieved a new high against New Zealand. With a traditional Jadeja ball that tailed in just enough to deceive the batter, he sent Glenn Phillips, his 312th wicket, back to the pavilion. It was the last push he needed to cross the 311-wicket threshold and place in the top five for India.

The transition from the “rockstar” label to the seasoned match-winner he is now was symbolised by this moment. It wasn’t just about the number of wickets; it was about the years, the effort, and the pure determination to make each delivery as if it were his first.