Comeback man Jadeja happy to get first hundred on home ground
HT Correspondent RAJKOT: Ravindra Jadeja said pressure is more on a player mak ing a comeback after scoring his maiden Test century agains West Indies here at the Saurash tra Cricket Association (SCA Stadium. After missing the Tes series in South Africa and the first four Tests in England, Jadeja smacked 86 not out in the fifth Test at The Oval before becoming India’s latest Test centurion.
Jadeja told reporters, “When you are not in the playing XI con sistently and get a chance sud denly, there obviously pressure to perform. You feel that this chance you have got needs to be utilised. Even in England, I had that in mind that I have got a chance and I have to do well.”
“...and then at the Asia Cup, got opportunity there and did well too. I am working hard to develop my game as much. If you see in the whole of 2018, I have played only about 5-6 matches suddenly you get a game and you have to perform in that, you don’ have so much time to think and luckily, I have done well in the Test in England and this one too,” he said.
While dedicating the century to his late mother, Jadeja said “Obviously it is always special to score a hundred. It was my firs Test hundred, so it was very spe cial for me, since it has happened in the past that I got to 80s and 90s and could not score a century. felt bad at those times but luckily today, on my home ground scored a hundred. I would say that it was a special day for me.”
Later in the day, Jadeja also exploited a hilarious mix-up between West Indies batsmen Shimron Hetmyer and Suni Ambris. When asked about the delay in breaking the stumps, the all-rounder replied in jest.
“Regarding that run-out, you saw what happened. When I saw both the batsmen at the same end I did not think he (Shimron Het myer) would give so much o effort, in that heat, he would do that (run towards the non striker’s end). I was relaxed (thinking) that I would com plete the run-out normally but his effort was good.”
Jadeja said he was deter mined not to play a loose shot. “I was just talking to myself that I don’t want to play a loose shot, I don’t want to play a wrong shot and get out. I was talking to Umesh (Yadav) and (Mohd) Shami as well that I need to play and score that hundred. was very calm, not in hurry and not thinking about runs. “
If you see in the whole of 2018, I have played only about 56 matches, suddenly you get a game and you have to perform in that, you don’t have so much time to think. RAVINDRA JADEJA, On his century