Jadeja Calls Potential Draw In South Africa Test A “Win-Win” For India

Ravindra Jadeja declared that saving the second Test against South Africa on Wednesday would amount to a “win-win situation” for India’s young side, even as the hosts stared at an inevitable 0-2 series defeat after being set an improbable 549 to win on a turning Guwahati pitch.

Speaking at the end of Day 4, the 36-year-old all-rounder, who claimed seven wickets in the match, insisted the looming home-series loss would not scar India’s preparations for their next Test assignment in Sri Lanka in August 2026. “I don’t think it will affect the next series. But as a cricketer nobody wants to lose a series, especially in India,” Jadeja said, adding that a draw on the final day would still feel like a moral victory. “Hopefully we will try to save the Test match. Even if we aren’t winning the series, drawing the match is going to be a win-win situation for us.”

Jadeja defended the inexperienced middle order—featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel, and Washington Sundar—saying defeats at home magnify scrutiny on youth far more than victories do. “When India wins in home conditions, people think it’s not a big deal. But if you lose a series in India, it becomes a very big deal,” he observed. “For a youngster it’s a learning phase. If they handle this situation well, they will mature as players, and India’s future will be better.”

Also Read: Who Will Lead Rajasthan Royals if Sanju Samson Leaves Ahead of IPL 2026?

The veteran also pointed to the decisive role of conditions and the toss, noting that South Africa’s spinners reaped sharp turn and bounce only after fast bowlers had roughed up the surface, while India’s attack bowled on a “shining mirror” for the first two days. Once the Proteas took a 288-run first-innings lead, their batters played with complete freedom in the second innings. “Situation matters a lot in cricket,” Jadeja said, urging the batting unit to approach the final day positively and “play the whole day” to force a stalemate. With the series already lost after the first test, pride and survival now rest on India denying South Africa a historic clean sweep on Indian soil.

Also Read: “Feeling Bad For Jaiswal”: Fans Brutally Troll Shubman Gill After Flop Show In 2nd T20I