While there is a very healthy competition in the present Indian cricket team, the 33-year-old Kedar Jadhav feels happy with this situation.
The visiting side Indian cricket team provided the all-round performances in the second ODI against the hosts New Zealand at Bay Oval (Mount Maunganui) as they clinched a dominating victory by 90 runs and has taken the 2-0 lead of the series. In this game, almost every Indian players have utilised their opportunities wisely.
After the game, Jadhav told the reporters about the healthy competition in the national side, “It is a good thing for any team that more guys are competing for one spot. So every time any guy gets an opportunity, he will know that he needs to perform.”
While every Indian batsman, who got the opportunities in the second ODI, played very well, Jadhav also played a great cameo knock of unbeaten 22 runs off 10 balls.
Talking about his chance to feature in the upcoming 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England & Wales, starting on 30 May, Jadhav said, “It’s not about what I think about my selection. Whether I accept it or not, it’s not in my hands. It is the selector’s call and the best 15 will go. Everybody is trying to put their best foot forward and when you play for India, there is bound to be competition and you have to be at the top of your game.”
While the openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan provided a very good start with the 154-run partnership, at next, the skipper Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav utilised the situation very well.
Also watch: Dhoni And Jadhav Scored 35 Runs In Last Two Overs
After Jadhav came to bat at no.6, he and Dhoni had the unbroken 53-run partnership for the fifth wicket that helped the visiting side to score 324/4 at the end of 50 overs. The in-form senior wicketkeeper-batsman Dhoni once again played a great knock of unbeaten 48 runs off 33 balls.
Talking about Dhoni’s knock, Jadhav said, “It helps when especially if Mahi bhai is there till the last ball. All his experience and the power in his game, it helps players like us to just work around him and he takes most of the strike and scores most of the runs.”
Also watch: Fast Hands Of MS Dhoni Sends Ross Taylor Back
Speaking about their recent limited-overs success, Jadhav has credited the dominating top-order batting performances.
He said after the second ODI, “We wanted to bat first and it started off well. The kind of top-order batting we have, there will be 90 per cent times when we will get a good start.
“So for most of us, batting at Nos 5 or 6, we don’t get to bat, because our top batsmen are too strong and they have been doing bulk of scoring in the last 4-5 years. So it’s good that we batted first.”
Once again Dhawan and Sharma provided a very good start as both scored half-centuries in the second ODI. While the Player of the Match award winner Sharma scored 87 off 96 balls, Dhawan played the knock of 66 off 67 balls.
Talking about their partnerships, Jadhav added, “Shikhar and Rohit have shown class and consistency in the last few years. We had a good (opening) partnership of 150 odd and had enough experience to take the score past 300.”
Also read: Shikhar Dhawan: We Have Very High Competition Within The National Team
Jadhav also credited the regular spin-bowling partners, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, for their successful bowling in the middle overs.
Jadhav said, “Kuldeep and Chahal are our key assets in middle overs and as a team, we back them totally. Most of the teams find it difficult to score against them and eventually if we put runs on the board, then teams have to take risk against them and that works for us.”
