Star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja brought up his 16th first-class hundred on October 12, 2026, finishing on 102 off 209 balls for Saurashtra in their Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Group B fixture against Chhattisgarh at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot. The knock arrived at a critical juncture and helped the hosts recover to post a competitive first-innings total of 392.
Saurashtra had slipped to 120/3 in the 41st over after losing two wickets in quick succession when Jadeja walked to the crease. He batted through the remainder of the first day and was unbeaten on 72 at stumps. On the second morning, he needed only 51 more deliveries to reach three figures, converting his overnight effort into a full century before being dismissed caught and bowled by Dharmendrasinh Jadeja for 102.
Jadeja hit seven fours during his stay and forged a match-defining 205-run fifth-wicket partnership with Prerak Mankad. Mankad contributed 129 to that stand, with the pair lifting Saurashtra from 151/4 to the eventual first-innings total of 392, giving the home side’s bowlers a solid platform in the Group B contest.
What does this century mean for Jadeja’s first-class record?
The hundred was Jadeja’s 16th in first-class cricket, achieved in his 151st match in the format. The 37-year-old all-rounder, born on December 6, 1988, crossed 8,500 first-class runs with this innings, finishing on 8,504 runs at an average of over 44. The milestone reinforces his standing as a reliable lower-order contributor in red-ball cricket, not merely a bowling and fielding asset.
Jadeja has been a consistent performer for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy across his career. His ability to steady an innings under pressure, as he demonstrated at Rajkot, has been a recurring feature of his domestic red-ball record alongside his well-established contributions with the ball and in the field.
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How did Saurashtra’s innings unfold against Chhattisgarh?
When Jadeja arrived at the crease in the 41st over, Saurashtra were in a precarious position at 120/3, having lost two wickets rapidly. The innings required a steadying hand, and Jadeja provided exactly that, anchoring the middle order through the closing stages of day one and into the second morning.
The 205-run partnership between Jadeja and Mankad was the centrepiece of Saurashtra’s recovery. Mankad’s 129 complemented Jadeja’s century as the two batters added the bulk of the runs after the side had slipped to 151/4. Saurashtra’s eventual total of 392 in the first innings gave their bowling attack a meaningful advantage heading into Chhattisgarh’s reply in the Group B match.
