Ravindra Jadeja on course for return against Sri Lanka

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to return in the T20I series against Sri Lanka which starts on February 24 in Lucknow. The left hander has not played a game since the first home Test against New Zealand due to a knee injury and even till recently had been recovering at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

Jadeja’s comeback is a welcome news for India who are stretched a little thin at the moment in the lower middle order with Washington Sundar injuring his hamstring. Alongside him India would in all probability see the return of Jasprit Bumrah who had been rested after going through a strenuous schedule last year.

As per a Cricbuzz report, Jadeja has already reached Lucknow and is going through the quarantine protocols. India will play Sri Lanka right after the island nation's series against Australia, where they are currently struggling at the moment battling Covid-related issues and poor form. They have already surrendered the series and are not in a very good position in the fourth T20I as well. However, the team is expected to do better in the subcontinental conditions aided by the guile of their spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana.

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NZ vs SA | Outplayed South Africa on the verge of submitting Test on Day 2

The writing is on the wall for the Proteas in the first Test match in Christchurch after they were thoroughly outplayed on Day 2 on Friday, 18 February. Henry Nicholls’ century along with two half centuries from Tom Blundell and Matt Henry set the hosts for a big on before they returned to pick three quick wickets in the South African batting order. The Proteas were dominated from the first session itself with nightwatchman Neil Wagner starting on a very aggressive note. He hit 7 boundaries and 2 sixes and fell just one run shy of the half century mark. He added 80 runs with Henry Nicholls and set the tone for the rest of the day. New Zealand’s batting efforts were aided by uncharacteristically poor fielding efforts by South Africa who leaked boundaries every now and then. Later in the day Mark Boucher pointed out the same and stated that the energy levels of the visitors were below par. While he did not point out what could be the reason behind the same, one can safely assume that the 10-day hard quarantine might have something to do with it. NZ’s domination with the bat meant that Nicholls 105 runs off 164 balls before getting out and two significant contributions from Blundell (96 off 138) and Henry (58 off 68) secured a huge first innings total for the home side. The last wicket partnership between the two of them saw 94 runs being added before Blundell feather edged one to the keeper. Returning to bowl, Matt Henry and Tim Southee once again showed mastery over their home conditions. One after the other South Africa batsmen once again departed from the middle, with the score being 4/3 inside the first 5 overs. Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma arrested the flow of wickets and at the end of day’s play the visitors were struggling at 34/3 after playing 9 overs. South Africa are strongly placed in the Test match and it is very likely that they will finish the job on moving day tomorrow.