All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s promotion to number four in the batting order took everyone by surprise during the high-voltage India versus Pakistan encounter in the ongoing Asia Cup on Sunday (August 28).
Jadeja played a crucial knock of 29-ball 35 and was involved in a match-defining 52-run partnership with Hardik Pandya (33* off 17 balls) as India overhauled the target of 148 with five wickets in hand and two deliveries to spare.
Talking about his batting promotion, Jadeja on Tuesday (August 30) said he was “mentally ready” for the challenge.
“Of course (I knew it coming)… I knew such a situation would come after seeing their playing XI. I was mentally ready. Luckily, I scored those crucial runs for the team,” Jadeja told reporters on the eve of India’s Asia Cup 2022 match against Hong Kong.
“I was the only leftie in the top-seven, sometimes when left-arm spinners and leg-spinners are bowling, it’s easy for a left hander to take chances.
“I just play according to the situation whenever I go out there. In T20, you don’t have much time to think, you just go out there and express yourself. I just have to score runs while batting and give breakthroughs when it’s needed.”
Asked if he will continue batting at No. 4, Jadeja said: “It depends on the situation and the opponent bowlers.”
The southpaw was promoted to tackle the threat posed by Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz as both the Pakistan spinners turned the ball away from a right-hander.
The move turned out to be a masterstroke after the Men in Blue lost Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in quick succession to Nawaz and were struggling at 53/3 inside 10 overs.
Jadeja bailed India out of trouble with a 36-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav (18) before he and Hardik stitched a match-winning partnership.
Asked what he and Pandya discussed while being in the middle, Jadeja said: “India-Pakistan matches are always high pressure games. You have high expectations. I don’t think there was anything much to discuss, such things happen in T20 format. Everyone contributed in batting, bowling and catches. There was not much to discuss and dissect.”
Talking about India’s last group match against qualifiers Hong Kong, Jadeja said: “We are going to play against Hong Kong with a positive mind set and we will not take them lightly.
“On a given day, anything can happen in T20Is. We will give our best and play positively,” he stated.
(With PTI inputs)
