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Cricket World Player of the Week - Ravindra Jadeja

©CWM

Ravindra Jadeja has been in the conversation for being the best all-rounder in Test cricket for a while now, but with every passing match, the claim sounds less of an exaggeration.

Having last played a Test match against England at Birmingham in June-July last year, Ravindra Jadeja had been out of competitive cricket for an extended period through injury. However, when he stepped on the field against Australia in Nagpur, it looked as if he had never gone away.

Australia batted first and were bundled out for just 177, courtesy of a brilliant fifer from Jadeja which included the priced scalps of Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith.

It was Jadeja's seven wickets and a patient 185-ball 70 which pushed Australia to a point of no return in the match.

India had lost half their team for just 168, but ended up reaching 400 due to Jaddu's partnerships, first with centurion Rohit Sharma, and then with fellow left arm spinner Axar Patel.

Trailing by over 200, Australia did not stand the slightest of chance in their second innings as Ashwin and Jadeja shared seven wickets between them, which saw Australia collapse for 91 this time - their lowest-ever total in Tests in India.

As India won by an innings and 132 runs to take a 1-0 lead and a psychological edge in the series, they had Player of the Match Ravindra Jadeja to thank.