Team India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has defended coach Rahul Dravid’s decision to rest senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the second ODI, where India lost by six wickets. Jadeja said that the loss in the second ODI has not deterred the team’s morale and they are confident of bouncing back in style in the series decider.
“We were not disappointed with the loss. We are trying different combinations. We can try different batsmen at different positions. This is the series where we can afford to chop and change. We are not worried about one loss, we are trying to get the best out of our players,” Ravindra Jadeja said.
Jadeja also revealed that the team management already knows what the playing XI is going to be for the Asia Cup and World Cup.
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“Captain and team management knows what combination they are going to play. There is no confusion at all. We didn’t lose the match because of the experiments, sometimes the conditions also matter. In my opinion, one loss is not going to create any confusion or doubt. We have already decided what is going to be the combination in the Asia Cup,” said Ravindra Jadeja.
The all-rounder also said that he is ready to sit outside if the team management wants to give youngsters a chance.
“I want to play all the games. The more I will play, the better I will become. But team’s requirement is something else. But if the team will ask me to sit out, I will do it. Young players also need that international experience, they also need game time,” Ravindra Jadeja said.
India has not lost an ODI series against West Indies since 2006 and Jadeja is confident that they will keep that record intact. Ravindra Jadeja also praised the young West Indies team and said that this group has a great future.
“I think they are a very young team. They are learning, they are getting better. The more they play, they will get better. I think they have a very good young team and a good talented side. I am sure they will learn from the Indian team. All the senior players are playing here, they will learn something. They have a good future,” he said.
On his own purple patch, the all-rounder said that he would love to do well in the Asia Cup and World Cup.
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“To perform in a major tournament is every player’s dream. I need to keep working hard, I will try to improve the areas where I can work. I need to play with the responsibility the team has given me,” he said.
Ravindra Jadeja’s comments come after India’s loss in the second ODI, which was their first loss in the series. The third and final ODI will be played on Sunday in Ahmedabad.
