Jadeja excited after ‘memorable’ return
THE ALL-ROUNDER HAD LAST PLAYED FOR INDIA’S ODI TEAM IN 2017 BEFORE FRIDAY
Ravindra Jadeja expressed the joy of his comeback to India’s One-day team through a matchwinning spell that won him the Man of the Match award against Bangladesh on Friday in the Unimoni Asia Cup match at the Dubai International stadium.
Asked by Gulf News how it felt to land in the UAE only the day before the match and how happy he was at carrying his stupendous all-round show against England in the last Test match of the series at the Oval into this match, Jadeja said: “Actually I got confidence from last game against England. I didn’t know I got a call for the One-day side because I was playing Vijay Hazare tournament in Delhi. I didn’t know what is going on here [the injuries to players]. Day before I got a call from selector, he said you may have to go to Dubai, I was asked to be ready. It was very good news, and I was very happy after I got the call from the selector.”
Jadeja last played for India’s One-day team during a series against the West Indies in Kingston on July 6, 2017. For over a year, he was not considered for selection and hence he feels this is a special moment.
“Yes definitely this comeback is memorable, because there hadn’t been much gap to the previous comebacks. It had been 480 days since I played, so I will always remember this performance.”
Jadeja revealed how tough it was to get back and how anxiously he waited for this moment.
“Actually I was only thinking that I was playing Test cricket. I was only looking at when I got a chance in that because last two to three series I’ve not played in them,” he said. “So I was motivating myself to do well whenever I get a chance. What is in my hands is to perform. I was thinking more about what was in my hands, about what I can do, about how I can improve my game and how I can upgrade my game in away conditions.
“Those are the things I was thinking and not about the results. I got a chance in the last Test and I did well. Here, unfortunately Axar got injured and I got an opportunity. But I am only thinking about what’s in my control.”
More effort on slow wickets
Asked about his approach when faced with the challenge of bowling on slow wickets, Jadeja said: “I think on a slow wicket, it takes more effort because there’s a five-fielder rule, so your midwicket is in, only one fielder is deep for boundary protection.
“So in my opinion on a slow wicket, more effort is needed to bowl. On normal wicket, even after pitching, the ball goes with pace and bounce which doesn’t give the batsmen much time. But on slow wickets like these, we need to put extra effort to bowl.”
What is in my hands is to perform. I was thinking more about what was in my hands, about what I can do, about how I can improve my game and how I can upgrade my game in away conditions. ” Ravindra Jadeja » Indian cricketer