Mumbai: All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who hasn’t been in action for India for quite some time now said that he is focusing more on batting, having learnt from Mahendra Singh Dhoni that he would get more batting opportunities in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year.
His bowling hasn’t been great in the ongoing Vijay Hazare trophy but the Saurashtra all-rounder said that he is now emphasising more on his batting.
“Mahi bhai told me that I will get batting opportunities in the IPL this year. He said that I have the ability of a proper batsman, and I am not the flash in the pan type of batsman. And I should think like that,” said Jadeja, in an interview with the New Indian Express.
Jadeja was retail alongside Dhoni and Suresh Raina by the Chennai Super Kings for the upcoming IPL. Speaking on his retention, Jadeja said, “It was really encouraging for me. So, I am concentrating more on the batting aspect of my game and trying to get used to playing the anchor role.”
“I am quite happy with the way I am bowling. In fact, I am focusing more on my batting now. I do not want to be a player who is known for hitting those 20-odd runs. I want to play the anchor role, just like I did today,” he added, after scoring an unbeaten 113 of 116 balls in the Vijay Hazare trophy match against Jharkhand on Sunday.
However with the World Cup just 16 months away, Jadeja isn’t neglecting his bowling skills and is looking to perfect them as well.
“It (pace variation) is the most important thing. I am trying to do that. I am using different angles to bowl” he said.
On his performance in the ongoing Vijay Hazare trophy, he said, “If I get wickets owing to mistakes of batsmen, I am not satisfied from the inside. If I think I have done the things I wanted to do, like varying the pace, I am content with that. If I am satisfied with the way I have bowled, I do not think much about other things. If I am executing my plans, I am happy. The pain was unbearable some times while playing certain shots. But this was really important for my self-confidence. It is morale boosting. To chase the target (330) under the circumstances is really special for me.”