Jadhav believes MS Dhoni bolsters the middle-order: The Indian all-rounder spoke highly of the wicket-keeper batsman and the wrist-spinners.
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There is no hiding to the fact that each and every performance in the ongoing ODIs for India is being monitored from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019’s point of view. Despite players speaking against it, one believes that the team management and the selectors must be keenly looking from the world event’s perspective.
Speaking to the media during the post-match press conference at Mount Maunganui, India all-rounder Kedar Jadhav also spoke against the same. Jadhav was of the opinion that the players are solely focusing on the next match.
“As of now, we are focusing on only the next game. We try to take one game at a time. World Cup is at the back of out mind but our immediate focus is the next game. We want to try and do the process right and the results will follow,” the all-rounder was quoted as saying.
Even though it’s very frustrating because we need another wicket, it’s beautiful to watch India bat, isn’t it. They’re like elks out there, stampeding between stumps. They’re just so fast and nimble! Dazzling. #NZvIND
— Michelle Langstone (@mifflangstone) January 26, 2019
MS Dhoni’s last seven ODI innings in New Zealand:
48*, 85*, 47, 79*, 50, 56, 40
His four ODI innings of 2019:
48*, 87*, 55*, 51#NZvIND
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 26, 2019
The 33-year old cricketer also mentioned that his thinking of the squad won’t matter much as eventually it will be the selectors, coach and the captain, who will have a say in picking the final squad for the world event.
“The best 15 will be selected and board the plane to England. My thinking doesn’t matter much. Everybody is trying to put their best foot forward. Everybody tries to perform well. When you are playing for India, there is competition. We take pride in it and try to perform consistently,” Jadhav said.
[yuzo_related]
Coming in to bat at No. 6 in the 46th over in the second ODI today, Jadhav score an invaluable 22* (10) with the help of three fours and a six. It was his 53-run partnership with India wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni which propelled India 324-4 in 50 overs. Being asked about the middle-order’s form, Jadhav talked in the affirmative about the same and also highlighted the importance of Dhoni’s presence.
Rohit Sharma 87
Shikhar Dhawan 66
Virat Kohli 43
Ambati Rayudu 47
MS Dhoni 48*Each of India’s top five scored 40+ for the first time in an ODI. Only the 10th such instance for any team in this format. #NZvIND
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) January 26, 2019
MS Dhoni in 2019 👇
51, 55*, 87*, 48* 🙌
Average: 241 🚁#CricketMeriJaan #NZvIND
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) January 26, 2019
“The kind of form Mahi bhai [Dhoni] is in and [Ambati] Rayudu played a good knock, I guess all the middle-order batsmen are in good touch. Mahi bhai being there till the last ball definitely helps. His experience and power help us to just work around him,” he added.
India’s wrist-spinner duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav seem to be their one of the biggest strength. Given the way both of them take onus on themselves, it is continually becoming daunting for the opposition batsmen to attack India in the middle overs.
“Kuldeep and Chahal are one of out key assets [in the middle overs]. We, as a team, back them totally. They are two quality wrist-spin bowlers. Most of the team finds it difficult to score against them. If we put runs on the board, batsmen have to take risk against them which works for us,” Jadhav said of Chahal and Yadav.
