Watching Ravindra Jadeja go through the grind at the VCA Stadium in the first Test against Australia, it was hard to comprehend that he had played a solitary game in the five months since last September, when he sustained a non-cricketing knee injury in the Asia Cup in the UAE.

Did it all in Nagpur

Jadeja did everything that was required of him, the engine room during India’s charge to an innings victory inside three days. On Day One, he sent down 22 excellent overs of left-arm spin to pick up five for 47, on days Two and Three combined, he batted for four hours in making a vital 70 and on the third evening, he finished with two for 34 from 12 overs to complement R Ashwin’s demolition act.