'Rajput' Jadeja talks bat-brandishing, takes sly dig at Moeen Ali

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja got another opportunity to perform his traditional celebration of bat brandishing during his career-best knock of 90 runs during the ongoing third Test of the five-match series against England at the Punjab Cricket Stadium (PCA) in Mohali on Monday.

Jadeja reached his 3rd Test fifty against England in the first innings and after reaching the milestone, the left-hander brought out his trademark sword celebration out, twirling his bat vigorously in the direction of the dressing room with a smile on his face.

"My celebration style is a trademark of a Rajput. And I follow that only. There is nothing new in it. Nothing special. Being a Rajput, it is my trademark to enjoy success by swinging a bat,

It's just that I can't carry a sword into the ground!," Jadeja told reports after the end of third day's play here.

It wasn't the first time that the 27-year-old Saurashtra all-rounder had celebrated in that manner.

After getting his first Test fifty at Lord's in 2014, he celebrated in the same manner, leaving everyone bewildered at the venue. The second instance came more recently when he reached the fifty-mark against New Zealand in Kanpur Test match at the GreenPark.

In Mohali, Jadeja came to the middle at a tricky time for the Indian side with skipper Virat Kohli dismissed and India 204/6 in reply to England's 283. He joined his fellow spin compatriot Ravichandran Ashwin to turn things around for the hosts after a middle order collapse.

Jadeja then took a swipe at England spinner Moeen Ali for no apparent reason.

Without naming Moeen Ali's, who tormented India in England in 2014 with 19 scalps, Jadeja took a slight dig at the English offie.

"Hum jab England gaye the tab toh unke spinners bhi aise lag raha tha ki Muralitharan ball daal raha hain. (When we went to England, even their spinners looked like Muralitharan bowling)," he said, referring to Moeen Ali, causing peels of laughter in the room.

At stumps on Day Four, the visitors were left in tatters at 78-4, and are still trailing by 56 runs. India lead the five-match Test series 1-0 with Tests in Mumbai and Bengaluru to come.