Ind vs Eng: Beginning of finisher promise

India's latest match-winner has come from unexpected quarters. Not many would have tipped the diminutive Kedar Jadhav to make the difference for India in the first ODI against England on Sunday.

It's hard to spot Jadhav doing his bit when his high-profile teammates go through the nets. For instance, he was jogging the extra rounds at the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium under scorching mid-day sun two days prior to the Sunday high-octane ODI when his teammates were already in the nets.

However, the 31-year-old right-handed batsman does not leave any stone unturned when it comes to preparation, knowing well his role in the ODI set up. He has the all-important shoes of MS Dhoni to fill in at No. 6. As he showed on Sunday night with some scintillating strokes that even left captain Virat Kohli amazed at the other end.

Sunday 63/4 with still 288 to win in 38.1 overs — was not the first time that he has batted in a pressure situation. His first ODI century was also scored in similar circumstances when the second string India side led by Ajinkya Rahane were in a spot of bother at 82/4 against lesser-fancied Zimbabwe in Harare in July 2015.

Jadhav strode in to join Manish Pandey and the two shared 144 for the fifth wicket with the former scoring 105 not out and the latter, 71. This partnership ensured that India were not embarrassed by the hosts.

In the times of transition, with India having a new leader in all formats in Kohli, who wants MS Dhoni to bat with freedom higher up the order and NOT be burdened again with the No. 6 responsibility, Jadhav is staking his claim for that slot.

Kohli has no doutbt about Jadhav's abilities. "All of them were clean shots, he didn't slog the ball once," Kohli said of Jadhav's big-hitting abilities that saw him make 120 in just 76 deliveries. "He was brilliant and that's why we back him to play at No. 6. I'm glad I was out there with him, to keep pushing him."

Out of the nine ODI innings Jadhav has played, he has batted at No. 6 in seven of them while batting one slot lower in two. Jadhav had the chance to play the finisher's role against New Zealand in October last year but 41 in 37 balls in Delhi was not enough as India fell short by six runs.

This left Jadhav dejected. Kohli said: "He was disappointed in the last series against New Zealand when he couldn't get us across the line. In New Delhi, he was playing really well. We told him that the best place you can learn is out there in the middle, no point sitting outside and thinking what you could have done. He'll understand how to do it again and again."

Jadhav has matured as a cricketer, what with his many years of playing for Maharashtra, even though his India call-up came only in November 2014. He knows the demands and the expectations that Kohli has on him. At 31, he has to be in peak fitness.

The Indian fans know how quick Kohli and Dhoni run between the wickets. Jadhav was no less and he showed on Sunday with his running between the wickets during the 200-run stand with his captain.

His call for runs, has also been precise, like he did not hesitate to send an anxious Kohli, on 99, back rather than take a risky run.

Many may think that Jadhav and Hardik Pandey fight for the No. 6 slot. Kohli clarified: "Kedar is predominantly our No. 6. He hasn't batted higher up. With both of these guys, we will look to back them.

"Manish is obviously a part of our scheme of things. He is a very talented player, it is difficult to find people with that much talent – both Manish and Kedar. It's just the pecking order in terms of who is preferably going to get a chance ahead of whom.

"I think both are good enough to be play at 4, 5, 6. We have to figure out what's the best combination for the team and then give them chances accordingly. We predominantly can't go all youth and then have one or two guys under a lot of pressure every game. I think it's the balance that we need to maintain and give the youngsters chances at the right times," Kohli said.

"I didn't need to tell him much out there in the middle. He was very calculative. You understand when a guy is trying to slog the ball or is playing good cricket – you don't necessarily need to say too much at that stage and confuse him. I knew he was in good space, so I let him express himself. When he was getting cramps, he was thinking about that. I told him to get the focus back on the game and take his mind off it (cramps). He was brilliant. I couldn't believe some of the shots he played. He told me it was instinctive, but such was his talent."
–Kohli on mentoring Jadhav

Did you know?

Kedar Jadhav's both ODI centuries have come in winning causes at No. 6, 105* against Zimbabwe while batting first and 120 against England while chasing

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85.00
Average of Kedar Jadhav in seven ODI innings batting at No. 6, at which slot his strike rate is 118.88