As Team India trounced Pakistan by five wickets on Sunday, their campaign in the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 got off to a successful start. In order to assist India chase down 148, Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya combined for 52 runs for the fifth wicket. Jadeja was out for 35, while Pandya continued to bat unbeaten at 33 to lead the team across the finish line. At the same location on Wednesday, Team India will then take on Hong Kong. On Tuesday, Jadeja spoke at a press conference, discussing the victory over Pakistan and what lies next.
“India-Pakistan games are always high-pressure and people have their expectations. All in all, everyone contributed in all three departments. Spinners bowled well in the game as well, but sometimes it can happen that you can deliver good balls but the wickets do not come. The T20 format is such that fast bowlers can end up taking wickets on full tosses. As a bowling unit, everyone bowled well. Whenever we needed a wicket, we got that. It was a collective performance from us against Pakistan. “Pressure is always there when you play for India. You have to play with responsibility. Whenever you go out to bat, when the side is in a tough spot. The same goes for bowling. You feel good when you perform under pressure. It gives you confidence for sure,” he added.
Talking about Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah, Jadeja said: “It is not like that we would have lost if Naseem Shah was not suffering from cramps. In T20, bowlers are under pressure at the death, it does not matter if he is young or experienced. Luckily, whatever we tried, it worked. Naseem Shah is a good bowler, he knows in what areas he needs to bowl and how to counter situations. All their pacers bowled well, it was not easy.” When asked about him coming at No.4 and whether the same will continue if Rishabh Pant comes into the side, Jadeja said: “Sometimes, left-arm spinners are bowling so it is easier to send a left-handed batter to the middle. I was the only left-hander in the Top 7 in the last game and somehow I knew this sort of situation might arise as they have a left-handed spinner and leg spinner. I was mentally prepared for that. You cannot say whether the same will continue going ahead as all oppositions are different.”
Talking about the rumours that keeping surfacing about him on the internet, Jadeja had a hilarious incident to narrate. “You are talking about me not being a part of the T20 World Cup squad, this is nothing. I had once read that I have died (laughs). I do not think about all this, I just look to give my best. You just need to practice and improve and this is the key to success.” Team India benefited from their opponents’ slow over-rate in the game versus Pakistan. Due to their slow over rate and inability to complete their overs within the stipulated time, Pakistan had to introduce five fielders inside the 30-yard circle during the last overs. Speaking about this rule, Jadeja said: “You need to bowl your overs in quick time otherwise it can cost you the game. You have to move quickly between the overs,” said the all-rounder.
