Ravindra Jadeja Nurtures 4th Test Century Vs ENG In Rajkot; IND Get In Comfortable Space

Jadeja & Sarfaraz Khan staged IND's fightback on Day 1 (AP)

Ravindra Jadeja had a champion return to the Indian colours as the ace all-rounder smacked a match-needed century in Rajkot after missing the second match against England. Coming out to the middle, with India reeling at 33-3, Jadeja accompanied Rohit Sharma to notch 204 runs for the fourth wicket. 

On the first day of the third Test match, Jadeja smacked his fourth century in the format, alongside 20 half-centuries. 

After Rohit Sharma's unlucky dismissal on 131, the local boy got Sarfaraz Khan on the other end. And boy oh boy, the debutant staged the arena with his brilliant stroke play. Sarfaraz, in particular, studded a flurry of fours and sixes as India had a 77-run stand for the fifth wicket at a brisk rate.

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As Sarfaraz was creaming the English attack across the park during his maiden Test fifty, Jadeja kept bringing the young batter onto the strike. The 34-year-old all-rounder did get to his landmark by ticking singles here and there, but the debutant was thrown under the bus in a disastrous run-out.

Despite losing three quick wickets on a relatively flat track, India have found their way back in the game as play comes towards its end on Day 1. At the time of publishing, the home team are at 315-5 after 82 overs, with Jadeja batting at 100* alongside Kuldeep Yadav on the under end.