Jadhav owes it to tennis ball

Pune, january 17

Kedar Jadhav, who has become an overnight star after his match-winning hundred in the first ODI against England, left everyone stunned with the power he packs in his strokes. The pint-sized batsman fearlessly came down the wicket to pacers and bludgeoned them into submission during his match-winning 76-ball 120, studded with 12 boundaries and four sixes. 

So how does he pull off those strokes, especially the ones down the ground? “I’ve played a lot of tennis ball cricket in my childhood. There used to be a tournament where only straight sixes were allowed; if a batsman hit them elsewhere, he was out. So that is how I learnt clearing the 30-yard circle on a bouncing ball,” said Jadhav. “The other day I was in full flow and was able to pull off those strokes,” he said.

When Jadhav walked in to join skipper Virat Kohli, India were in deep trouble at 63/4. Jadhav, however, saw an opportunity in the grim situation and went on to build a 200-run partnership with Kohli. 

“From the batsman’s mindset, you see the opportunity of scoring big when more fielders are inside the circle and at attacking positions. And in my 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... So I try and make sure every time I get to bat, I give more than 100 percent.”

He attributes his success to a strong self-belief and steely determination to do well under all circumstances.

“Two years ago we went on an A tour of Australia. I did well there even though I had a fracture in my hand. It hurt but I was not aware it was fractured and I carried on. The pain continued even after we came back, and it was then I realised that I had a fracture. I felt if I could do well with a broken hand, I could definitely play at the top level.” 

So how has his life changed post Sunday? “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 grounded. 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. — PTI