IND vs SA: Ravindra Jadeja equals Kapil Dev’s monumental record on Day 2 of the first Test

Ravindra Jadeja has long been the heartbeat of the Indian Test squad – a cricketer who has evolved from a promising left-arm spinner to one of the most complete all-rounders of the modern era. Be it with a bat, a ball or in the field, Jadeja’s presence has consistently shaped the matches in all conditions, making him indispensable to India’s red-ball plans. On Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens, that legacy became even stronger.

Ravindra Jadeja equals Kapil Dev’s iconic record

The historic moment arrived when Jadeja pushed a delivery through the covers to cross the 4,000 run mark in Test cricket. This made him only the second Indian – after the iconic one Kapil Developer – to record a remarkable double of 4,000 Test runs and over 300 wickets. It is a milestone that not only reflects Jadeja’s consistency but also underlines his position among cricket’s elite all-rounders.

Jadeja now joins Kapil in the rare club, showing how impactful he has been in both disciplines over the years. Kapil finished with 5,248 runs and 434 wickets, while Jadeja is already past 338 wickets and still counting – a testament to his longevity and match-winning ability.

Jadeja becomes the fourth player in Test cricket history to achieve the special double

This achievement becomes even more extraordinary when placed in a global context. Jadeja is now only the fourth cricketer in Test history to complete 4,000 runs and 300 wickets – a list that includes:

• Kapil Dev (India): 5,248 runs and 434 wickets
• Ian Botham (England): 5,200 runs and 383 wickets
• Daniel Vettori (New Zealand): 4,531 runs and 362 wickets
• Ravindra Jadeja (India): 4,000+ runs and 338 wickets*

Jadeja only reached the milestone in his 88th Test, making him the second fastest of the four. Only Ian Botham achieved the double faster, in 72 games. This highlights how quickly Jadeja has risen, especially considering his early years were dominated by his bowling.

Also READ: BCCI provides update on Shubman Gill after Indian captain retires injured on Day 2 of first Test against South Africa

The battle on day 2 at Eden Gardens keeps Test subtly in balance

The milestone came during a tense passage of play for India. After bowling out South Africa for 159 on Day 1, India looked to take full control but ended up with a slim 30-run lead, reaching 189 runs in their first innings.

KL Rahul‘s fighting 39, a light-hearted 27 away Rishabh pantsand Jadeja’s valuable contribution kept the innings steady, but South Africa’s Simon Harmer turned out to be the big disruptor and ended with an excellent 4/30. The Eden pitch is already showing signs of varying bounce and remarkable turns – conditions tailor-made for a player of Jadeja’s skills as the match enters its decisive phase.

Also READ: Fans were left seething after India suffered a tragic batting collapse against South Africa on Day 2 of Kolkata Test