Mohali: Having been recalled to the Test team, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja made a dream return, walking away with the Man of the Match award in India's opening Test against South Africa, here.

He was India's destroyer-in-chief in the second innings and took five wickets to help the home team to an 108-run win.The Saurashtra player, who had a match haul of eight wickets, said it was not the spinner-friendly track of Mohali, but measured bowling by Indian spinners that plotted the visitors' downfall.

"The wicket was definitely helping spinners, but we all three spinners bowled well. It wasn't as if we just turned up and bowled and got wickets. We all bowled well.

"It was a team effort. Everybody in the team put in the effort, took the catches and scored the runs. Everybody played his part. In a low-scoring match, these small contributions go a long way," said the left-arm bowler.

Jadeja, however, said that the South Africans' lack of experience in playing India also helped the hosts to some extent.

"Their team had only three players who had played five or six Tests in India. Most of the others have played either one or no Test in India. That also could be a factor... Possibly, they didn't know how the wicket would be, how much it (the ball) would turn or how many of them (deliveries) would go straight... We had that advantage," Jadeja said.

Asked whether the wicket in Rajkot, where he wreaked havoc with the ball in three Ranji Trophy matches recently, was similar to the Mohali pitch, Jadeja said the wicket in his home town was worse than the one here at the PCA Stadium.

"The wicket on which I played three Ranji Trophy matches in Rajkot was worse than this. This looks a very good wicket by comparison. You feel good as an Indian spinner to bowl in our own conditions.

"When the ball is turning and the wickets are coming, you get that confidence and then the ball comes out properly from your hand. It drops where you want it to drop. It was good that way... I was getting wickets too, so I was just enjoying my bowling," he said.

The 26-year-old said he felt disappointed when he dismissed AB de Villiers in the first innings only to find his delivery being called no-ball by the umpire.

"In Ranji Trophy, I didn't bowl a single no-ball. This is the first time it happened and unfortunately it happened when I dismissed De Villiers... There can't be a bigger wicket. After that, I became careful, because such things can cost you the match," he said.

Despite his recent success in the Ranji Trophy, Jadeja said he was determined to do well for India as he did not want to be branded as a player who only did well in domestic cricket.