Jadeja reflects on 10-year India journey after Galle 2017 Test win
Synopsis
Ravindra Jadeja's look-back at the 2017 Galle Test — where he took a six-wicket haul — was a moment of quiet pride. A decade of India service, four wickets in the latest win, and a 600th Test milestone shared with a debutant ten-wicket hero: Galle delivered again.
Key Takeaways
Ravindra Jadeja took 4 wickets in India's 165-run win over Sri Lanka at Galle .
Jadeja reflected on his 10-year India career, calling it a product of 'a lot of effort.' The match was India's 600th Test ; Manav Suthar claimed a career-best ten-wicket haul on debut.
Devdutt Padikkal scored 167 and 44 batting at number three and won Player of the Match .
India's WTC points percentage rose from 48.14 to 53.33 , though they remain fifth .
The second Test begins Sunday at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo .
Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has spoken warmly about his decade-long career with the Indian Test side, saying that maintaining a place in the team over such a sustained period demands extraordinary dedication and hard work. His comments came on Thursday, 20 August, following India's 165-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium — a ground that holds special significance for him.
Jadeja's Galle Memories
When shown a photograph from India's 2017 Galle Test win — in which Jadeja claimed a six-wicket match haul — the left-arm spinner turned reflective. 'Yes, it's from here. Barring the colour which has changed, the rest is the same. The last series we played here was in 2017,' he said in a video shared on the BCCI's official social media accounts.
Jadeja added: 'Obviously playing for India for 10 years means a lot because it takes a lot of effort to stay for a longer period of time. I think I'm feeling blessed and thanks to God that I'm still playing for India and doing what I've been doing for India since so many years.'
Jadeja's Role in the Galle Win
In the first Test of the ongoing two-match series, Jadeja contributed four wickets, helping India secure a dominant 165-run margin. The result handed India a 1-0 series lead. This was also India's 600th Test match — a landmark occasion that produced several standout individual performances.
Suthar and Padikkal Steal the Show
Young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar marked the occasion with a career-best ten-wicket haul — his first in Test cricket — making India's historic 600th Test a memorable milestone. Left-handed top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal, playing at number three in place of the injured B Sai Sudharsan, scored 167 and 44 across both innings and was named Player of the Match.
WTC Standings and What's Next
The victory lifted India's points percentage in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings from 48.14 to 53.33, though the side remains at fifth position. Both teams will now travel to Colombo for the second and final Test, scheduled to begin on Sunday at the Sinhalese Sports Club. A series win would provide India a further boost in the WTC table as they chase a place in the final.
Point of View
Format experiments, and generational transitions. Yet the Galle Test also signalled a changing of the guard: Manav Suthar's ten-wicket debut and Padikkal's composed 167 suggest India's Test pipeline is deeper than the WTC table position implies. The question is whether the selectors can manage this transition without disrupting the balance that Jadeja still anchors.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Ravindra Jadeja say about his 10-year India career?
Jadeja said playing for India for 10 years 'means a lot' and acknowledged that 'it takes a lot of effort to stay for a longer period of time.' He described himself as feeling 'blessed' to still be representing the country at the highest level.
How did India win the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle?
India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test at the Galle International Stadium . Manav Suthar took a ten-wicket match haul and Devdutt Padikkal scored 167 and 44, earning the Player of the Match award.
What is the significance of India's 600th Test match?
The Galle Test was India's 600th Test match in history. It was marked by Manav Suthar's first-ever ten-wicket haul in Tests and a dominant 165-run win, making it a landmark occasion for Indian cricket.
How did the Galle win affect India's WTC standings?
The victory pushed India's World Test Championship points percentage from 48.14 to 53.33, though India remain fifth in the standings. A win in the second Test in Colombo would further improve their position.
When and where is the second India vs Sri Lanka Test?
The second and final Test begins on Sunday at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
