England vs India 2018: I Want to Play All Three Formats - Ravindra Jadeja

Updated - 10 Jan 2019, 01:11 AM

England, India, Ravindra Jadeja, Gautam Gambhir
Ravindra Jadeja deliver goods for India at The Oval. PC: Getty Images.

India’s all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja said he wants to play all the three forms of the game. Jadeja has been out of action from the limited overs team since Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have launched themselves on the big stage. The Indian all-round only found his place in the playing XI of the fifth and last Test match against England.

In fact, this was Jadeja’s first match of the ongoing England tour. Meanwhile, the Saurashtra player replaced his spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin who was not 100% fit for the last match.

England v India 2018, Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja celebrates his wicket. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Wants to compare any opportunity into performance.

Jadeja also didn’t disappoint as he scalped two wickets on a surface which didn’t offer a lot to the spinner. The southpaw is generally right on the money with his line and length and was rewarded for his patience.

Jadeja, who is a live wire on the field, said the ultimate goal is to part of all the three versions of the game.

“For me, the biggest thing is that I am playing for India and maybe someday if I do well, I will be back playing all three formats of the game soon enough. But my aim is to convert any opportunity I get into performance,” he said in the post-match press conference.

Tough to be playing only one format.

Meanwhile, it is tough for a player to be playing one format of the game. There can be a lot of gap between the matches. Thus, it can disturb the rhythm of a player.

“When you are playing just one format it is very tough because there is too much gap between matches and the experience (rhythm) you need to play at international level is less. So you have to keep motivating yourself — whenever I get a chance, like in this game, whatever ability I have, I have to give my best on the field.”

Jadeja aims is to give his best.

PC: Getty Images

Ravindra Jadeja said he tries to give his 120% to the team whenever he gets the opportunity to play. In fact, it is palpable in the way Jadeja chases a ball in the outfield. In fact, there is no doubt that he is one of the swiftest players in Indian cricket history.

“Whenever I get an opportunity to play for India, I will give my best in both aspects — batting and bowling. I want to become a trusted member of the team and I can fulfil the all-rounder slot well because I have done it before in the past. It isn’t anything new to me. It is a matter of time.

“When you are going through a bad patch, you need to play more and more to regain your old form and touch. So it is possible the more I play international cricket, the better I will perform and will be able to make a comeback in all three formats”, said the southpaw.

Indian bowlers didn’t let the hosts off the hook.

India, England
Ishant Sharma celebrates after bagging one of his three wickets at the Kennington Oval. (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)

Ravindra Jadeja also shed light on team’s plan. Indian bowlers didn’t let the hosts off the hook yesterday and Jadeja said the plan was to not give away any boundaries. Consequently, England could only manage 198 runs as they scored their runs at run-rate of just over two runs per over.

“Everyone bowled well, especially when the partnership between Moeen Ali and Alastair Cook was on, our plan was to stop the boundaries. Our plan was that if they didn’t get boundaries, they’d panic and play wrong shots and get out. And that’s exactly what happened.

“From there we got six wickets for 50 or so. As a bowling department, that is our idea — not to concede runs. If there’s a partnership, we will bowl in good areas. In England, if one wicket falls, you get two or three in a cluster. And that’s what happened,” he said.

India was right on the money with their bowling plans. In fact, the Indian bowlers have been majestic right throughout the five-match series. Subsequently, the tourists will like to wipe out the tail as soon as possible. However, the biggest challenge will be India’s depleted batting.

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Ravindra Jadeja