India batsman says batting with Kohli makes it easier as bowlers focus on getting captain out
Tennis ball cricket has thrown a lot of exciting talents in India. Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was a big time tennis ball cricketer who burnt the international stage with his unorthodox shots.
The latest sensation to do the same is Pune ODI’s hero Kedar Jadhav. The 31-year-old middle-order batsman hogged the limelight along with skipper Virat Kohli on Sunday evening with a century that won India beat England by three wickets at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, and take a 1-0 lead in the three match ODI series.
Such was the shots Jadhav played in his 76-ball 120 that it stunned the Indian skipper. Jadhav demolished a decent English attack on a true batting beauty which saw India chase down the mammoth 351-run target with 11 balls to spare.
It wasn’t just his match-winning knock, but his shot making abilities that impressed one and all. The sixes he hit in the ‘V’ induced awe.
“I have played a lot of tennis ball cricket in my childhood. There used to be a tournament where only hitting straight sixes was allowed and you were out if you hit them anywhere else. So, that is how I learnt clearing the 30 yard circle on a bouncing ball. The other day, I was in full flow and was able to pull off those strokes,” Jadhav told the media in Pune on Tuesday.
Jadhav had a 200-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Kohli after India were at 63/4 at one stage. He said the intention was to play positive. “From the batsman’s mindset, you see the opportunity of scoring big as more fielders are inside the circle and at attacking positions. And in my particular case, the wicket was good, I could play my strokes. My natural game is anyway to take on the bowlers. So, I played with that mindset.
“I play every game thinking it could be my last. Whenever you represent your country, you have to give more than 100 per cent. So, I try and make sure every time I get to bat, I will give more than 100 per cent,” he added.
The Pune-born cricketer was confident and cool headed in his approach while going after the target. Jadhav said he developed the self-belief after he broke his hand during an A tour in Australia a couple of years back.
“Two years ago we went to an A tour to Australia and I was able to play decently not knowing that I had a fracture in my hand. The pain was the same even after 20 days of my coming back. It was at that moment I realised that if could do well with a fractured hand, then I can do it at the highest level.”
Has life changed post Sunday?
“Phone kaafi aa rahe hain (I have been getting a lot of calls). To be honest, I have put the phone on silent. Some people might think that now I am behaving differently but I want to stay rooted the ground. My family and friends help a lot in these things. I don’t like talking too much about what has happened. I try to stay in present,” added Jadhav.
On batting with Kohli, Jadhav said: “Whenever you bat with Virat, it always helps you. The focus of the bowlers is always on him, things like how to get him out and how to contain him. So if you are at the other end in that case, you get benefitted by getting the odd loose ball and bowlers also tend to take you little lightly,” said Jadhav.
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