NEW DELHI: India's star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Sunday said that sweep shots was not a good option on the slow and low Kolta pitch.
Australia came to the second Test in Delhi with a pre-determined ploy to tackle spin with sweep shots and it backfired for the visitors as they suffered a collapse on the third day. Hosts India defeated the visitors by six wickets inside three days to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
Player of the match Jadeja, who took career-best 7 for 42 in Australia's second innings, said that the Kotla wickets suited him well.
"These wickets suit me because the odd ball spins and some stay low. I knew they'd play sweeps and reverse sweeps, so my idea was just about keeping it simple and straight.
"I knew they were looking for runs, so the plan was just bowling into the stumps. If they make a mistake, I have a chance. Don't think the sweep is a good option against me on this kind of wicket," Jadeja said.
1/10:India-Australia 2nd Test: Top action pictures
2/10:Khawaja's fifty in the first innings
<p>Australia's opener Usman Khawaja raises his bat to celebrate after scoring a half-century during the first day of the second Test against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.<br /><br /></p>IANS
3/10:Shami shines with the ball
<p>India's Mohammed Shami was the leading wicket-taker in the first innings as he took 4 wickets in 14.4 overs against Australia.<br /><br /></p>AP
4/10:Ashwin-Jadeja duo
<p>India's Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took 3 wickets each during the first innings of the second Test.<br /><br /><br /></p>ANI
5/10:Fine innings by Handscomb
<p>Australia's Peter Handscomb raises his bat to celebrate scoring a half-century during the first day of the 2nd test match between India and Australia.<br /><br /></p>IANS
6/10:Axar leads from the front
<p>Axar played a gritty knock of 74 runs off 115 balls which included 9 boundaries and 3 sixes. Axar along with Ashwin who scored 37 runs, saved India's sinking batting.<br /><br /></p>IANS
7/10:Fifer for Lyon during the first innings
<p>Australia's Nathan Lyon took a five-wicket haul in the first innings. His bowling figures were 5/67 in 29 overs which included 5 maiden overs.<br /><br /></p>ANI
8/10:Jadeja rattles Australia's batting
<p>Ravindra Jadeja rattled Aussie's batting line-up in the second innings by taking 7 wickets. Jadeja's tally was 7/42 which is also his best bowling figure in a Test match.<br /><br /><br /></p>ANI
9/10:Rohit gives a perfect start
<p>Rohit started off well to pave the way for India's victory by scoring 31 runs off 20 balls before getting run-out.<br /><br /><br /></p>Getty Images
10/10:Pujara-Bharat partnership wins for India
<p>Pujara and Bharat notched a crucial partnership that led India to win the match and also retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.<br /></p>PTIPlaying in his 100th Test, Cheteshwar Pujara too said it was not ideal to employ the sweep shots so frequently.
"It's not a pitch to play the sweep shot due to low bounce," Pujara said.
The loss dashed Australia's hopes of breaking their 19-year drought to win a series in India.
On their batters getting out to the sweep shot, Australian skipper Pat Cummins said that they will need to review their shot selections and added that this loss hurt them.
"Everyone controls their own game, some balls just have your name. But we need a review on the shot choice, did we do things right? Both games were disappointing, this one in particular. We were ahead in the game and that doesn't happen often in India. This loss hurts," Cummins said.
(With inputs from PTI)
