'You ideally want to win and continue on with that momentum' - Ajay Jadeja on India’s preparation for T20 World Cup 2022

India recorded an emphatic victory in the rain-affected second T20I against Australia and will head into Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium for the series decider. India haven’t lost a T20I series since the T20 World Cup 2021 under the leadership of Rohit Sharma and with few weeks to go for the ICC event in Australia, it will be important to find the momentum.  

The Indian skipper played a flamboyant knock of 46* off 20 balls with four fours and four sixes after the game was shortened to eight overs per side in Nagpur. Dinesh Karthik hit a six and a four to finish the match as India won with four balls left to mark a strong comeback. Former Indian batter Ajay Jadeja felt that India cannot afford to lose games from here on and highlighted the importance of winning.  

Every game from now on, till we finish with South Africa, India have got to win: Ajay Jadeja  

Ajay Jadeja explained that winning will be the key to success from here on until the T20 World Cup and noted the significance of clinching the series against South Africa, which will follow after the Australia series. He went on reckon that momentum could be a decisive factor in a long tournament like T20 World Cup and added about the continuous series wins India has had in recent times.   

"From now on, I would say that this is our run to the World Cup. Every game from now on, till we finish with South Africa, India have got to win. Unless we do that, we cannot win the World Cup. If they catch that momentum or even look at it that way, then I think that it would be a good place to be in," Jadeja told on Cricbuzz. 

"Australia are a good team, they may not have their top four players, but they are still a better side than Sri Lanka. In the last few series we have got Ireland, a draw against South Africa, those were good results, but you got to win this one.” 

“You ideally want to win and continue on with that momentum. In World Cups, you need consistent wins, you cannot have one win and then one loss. A 2-1 scoreline looks good in a bilateral series win, but that one game you lost could be a crucial game in the World Cup. It could be the semis, or a vital group stage match to qualify for the semis," he added.