The 36-year-old, fresh off a stellar England tour, reached the landmark off just 168 balls, blending flair with ferocity to propel India to a commanding position at Narendra Modi Stadium.
Jadeja’s knock was a sixes-laden masterclass: five towering maximums and six boundaries propelled him to an unbeaten 104 off 176 balls by stumps. His signature sword-wielding celebration lit up the stands after the ton, capping a gritty fifth-wicket stand of 206 runs with wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel off 331 deliveries. This resilience turned the tide after early jitters, leaving the West Indies toiling.
The century wasn’t just about numbers – it etched Jadeja in history. Matching Dhoni’s six Test hundreds, he surged past the former skipper in six-hitting prowess, now boasting 80 maximums in 7,213 balls faced. Dhoni had 76 in 8,104 deliveries. This vaults Jadeja to third on India’s all-time Test sixes list, behind Rishabh Pant and Virender Sehwag (both 90) and ahead of Rohit Sharma (88). Notably, Pant’s efficiency shines: 90 sixes in a mere 4,621 balls, dwarfing Sehwag’s 10,346.
Jadeja’s eyes now lock on Pant’s throne. As India eyes a series whitewash, this knock reaffirms his evolution from a gritty lower-order fighter to a modern-day gladiator – blending bat, ball, and fielding wizardry with unyielding spirit.