Marco Jansen, at 6-foot-7, utilizes his long limbs to achieve a hitting arc that spans nearly a quarter of the pitch. His ability to make significant strides forward and maintain a powerful swing allows him to effectively reach pitches located further back without the need to risk leaving the crease, unlike other batsmen.
Marco delivered a remarkable performance in the match, scoring 70 runs off 39 balls with 3 sixes, making it the most impactful innings. Following his impressive Test accomplishments, he demonstrated his game-changing skills with both bat and white-ball in Ranchi.
Marco’s intense ‘pursuit and evasion’ duel with India’s star spinner Kuldeep Yadav defined the game’s second half. One misjudgment late in the match nearly resulted in Marco dismantling the leading wicket-taker, which would have overshadowed Virat Kohli’s century in a losing effort.
Kuldeep secured a wicket from a poorly delivered ball in the 34th over, emphasizing that disciplined adherence to one’s plan can yield positive results, as those who trust their skills often benefit even from mistakes.
After his 4/68 performance, Kuldeep discussed his strategy on the calm pitch, emphasizing the importance of mixing up variations to keep the batsman uncertain. When questioned about his teammates knowing his intention to dismiss Marco with a short-ball, he humorously noted that it wasn’t really communicated, as Marco was playing aggressively and hitting every good delivery for boundaries, attributing part of his success to luck.
The bowlers required some luck on the challenging Ranchi track, which posed difficulties for spinners due to its slow and low nature, made worse by dew on the balls. Despite facing a skilled spinner like Kuldeep, Marco continued to score impressively, hitting the ball out of the ground.
Marco displayed exceptional form, effectively countering India’s bowling with a variety of techniques, including cut flights and faster deliveries. Despite India’s efforts to adjust, Marco’s skill led to a significant partnership with Corbin Bosch, showcasing the Indian bowling unit’s struggles during the match.
In Kuldeep’s 5th over, Marco notably outplayed the Indian spinner, hitting a full ball for a four and following it with a six during a challenging over. Despite advice from captain KL Rahul and senior player Rohit Sharma to maintain a wicket-taking mindset, Kuldeep struggled, leading to a 16-run over and eventually being taken off the bowling attack. After a 10-over hiatus, Kuldeep returned to bowl from a new end, following further discussions with his team, as they were still searching for a breakthrough against South Africa, who were approaching the Indian target of 350.
Kuldeep hesitated in his bowling approach, opting for a short and slow delivery due to concerns about Marco’s powerful swing. The ball arrived slowly and with less bounce than anticipated, confusing Marco, who failed to time his shot. Instead of sailing over the boundary, the ball landed in Ravindra Jadeja’s hands, resulting in Marco’s dismissal and benefiting India against South Africa.
