Ravindra Jadeja came quite close to becoming the first man in the history of Test cricket to pick up 10 wickets and hit 150 plus in a Test match. The star spinner finished with 9 wickets and 175 not out as India hammered Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs in the first of a 2-Test series in Mohali on Sunday.

Jadeja, who pushed India’s total to 574/8 declared on Day 2, shone with the ball, picking up 8 wickets on Sunday, including a 5-wicket haul in the first innings. Jadeja had the opportunity to complete a 10-wicket match haul towards the end of the 3rd session on Day 3 but the last two Sri Lankan wickets fell to R Ashwin and Mohammed Shami.

India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test Day 3: Highlights

Sri Lanka lost 16 wickets on Day 3 as they were bundled out for 174 and 178 as Rohit Sharma went on to win his first Test as captain by a convincing margin.

“To be honest I don’t know about any stat. Feeling very good, happy to score runs and pick wickets for the team. Obviously, as a player, you boost your confidence with such a performance,” Jadeja said after winning the Player of the Match award.

Nonetheless, Jadeja became only the 6th cricketer and the first Indian in 60 years to hit a hundred and pick up a 5-0wicke haul in a Test match. Jadeja also broke Kapil Dev’s record for the highest score at No. 7 by an Indian in Test cricket.

Notably, it was also the 3rd successive Man of the Match-winning performance for Jadeja at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali and the all-rounder said he does get a positive vibe whenever he is in the city in Punjab.

“I would say this is my lucky ground. Whenever I come here I get positive vibes. I was looking to build a partnership with Rishabh, give him the strike and enjoy his batting from the other end,” he added.

“I have not done anything differently, just played to my strengths and I give myself time to settle down. I look to keep it very simple out in the middle.”

India next play Sri Lanka in the 2nd Test, a pink-ball affair from March 12 in Bengaluru and Jadeja said he will work towards getting used to the pink ball.

“I haven’t played with the SG pink ball, so it is going to be different and I will practice for a couple of days, hopefully it comes good,” he added.