IND vs SA : Ravindra Jadeja cleans up Tristan Stubbs with a ripper to pick his 250th Test wicket on home soil

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Day 2 of the first India vs South Africa Test at Eden Gardens turned into a landmark session for India as Ravindra Jadeja delivered a spell that shifted the momentum firmly towards the hosts. South Africa, already reeling after early blows, were pushed deeper into trouble when Jadeja found turn, bounce, and precision on the surface beginning to grip. The crowd sensed something special, and the moment arrived: Jadeja reached a massive milestone, his 250th Test wicket in India, and he did it with a ball worthy of the occasion.

Jadeja’s milestone moment arrived in classic Jadeja fashion, nothing flamboyant, nothing exaggerated, just relentless accuracy with a ball loaded with venom. Bowling from over the wicket, he delivered a quick, skidding delivery that pitched on middle and straightened sharply, catching Tristan Stubbs completely squared up.

What made this wicket special was the subtle dip before the ball pitched; Stubbs leaned forward expecting a standard Jadeja floater, but the ball dipped a shade shorter, making his forward press half-heated. The surface added its own mischief, gripping enough to straighten, but not so much that the batter could predict it. Stubbs’ bat came down at a slight angle, leaving a narrow gate for the ball to exploit, and Jadeja threaded it perfectly, clipping the top of off stump with surgical precision. Pant’s excitement behind the stumps showed how big the moment was, but Jadeja celebrated with his trademark calm, just a quiet raise of the arm, acknowledging the applause.

Taking 250 Test wickets in India places him in an elite bracket occupied by legends who dominated at home, and the manner of this dismissal classic stump-hitting accuracy blended with deceptive drift, perfectly symbolized why he thrives on subcontinental soil. Stubbs, who came in hoping to rebuild the innings, walked back knowing he had been undone by a bowler operating at peak skill and total confidence. The Eden Gardens crowd rose to salute the milestone, and Jadeja, ever the quiet warrior, simply walked back to his mark, ready for the next one.

Wicket No. 2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ in India for #RavindraJadeja!

The No.1 Test all-rounder is pushing #TeamIndia ahead in this cracking contest at Kolkata!#INDvSA 1st Test LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/uK1oWLgsfx

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 15, 2025

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The second day in Kolkata unfolded like a classic Test-match chokehold, with India’s spinners tightening their grip session after session until South Africa were dragged into survival mode on a pitch that had begun to reward accuracy and discipline. Jadeja, operating with his trademark precision, ripped through the top and middle order with a four-wicket burst that shifted complete control India’s way, dismantling any hope the visitors had of building a meaningful lead.

Starting the third session just 30 runs behind, South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals, first Ryan Rickelton to Kuldeep’s drift, then Aiden Markram to a Jadeja arm ball that stayed low, and soon after Wiaan Mulder edging one that bounced sharply to Pant, whose take was outstanding. Jadeja’s rhythm only grew stronger as he removed Tony de Zorzi almost instantly and then castled Stubbs with the milestone wicket, his 250th Test wicket in India, a landmark achieved with a delivery that spun late, dipped sharply, and beat the bat’s inside edge with surgical precision.

The pressure was relentless, the fielders stayed buzzing around the bat, and the scoring rate dipped below three as Temba Bavuma tried to absorb overs while wickets kept tumbling around him. Axar Patel added another when he trapped Kyle Verreynne, leaving South Africa 84/6 and ahead by only 54, with the tail exposed against a turning ball and a hostile Indian attack sensing a finish. The day, dominated by control, discipline, and spin mastery, set up India for a commanding position going into Day 3.

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