Jayant Yadav shares his strengths, says he is a spinner who can bat

India off-spinner Jayant Yadav, who recently scored his maiden test century, said that he prefers to be known as a bowler who can bat.

The offie from Haryana made it count when he was called up for the important test series against England. Yadav made his debut against the English in Vishakhapatnam and picked up 4 wickets in his maiden test match.

He also managed to score a half-century in the Mohali test, along with scalping 4 English batsman. In the fifth test of the England series, Yadav showed his ability to bat in front of a large Mumbai crowd. Although he had nothing to show for in the wickets column, Yadav scored a brilliant hundred lower down the order. He thus became the first Indian to score a century at no.9. In tandem with Virat Kohli, the duo put on a 241-run stand for the eighth wicket. India ended the first innings with a massive total on the board and went on to thump England, handing the visitors an innings defeat.

The tall off-spinner has scored runs in the domestic sector as well. Jayant Yadav has three first-class hundreds against his name. He will now shift his focus towards the IPL where he will represent the Delhi Daredevils.

“Scoring a Test century and batting in T20 are two different things. Everyone knows I can bat, it all depends on how well I can adapt from the Test format to the T20 format. Batting is an asset but I have always maintained that I am a bowler who can bat and I am happy to bat at number 9,” Jayant said.

Jayant Yadav will look to make a valuable contribution with the ball and propel his side to the qualifiers. Delhi have had a string of disappointing seasons, and the team will want a spinner like Yadav to bring in his expertise. “I would like to create an impact against our opponents. I hope to fulfill my role to the best of my potential. Batting in T20 is not easy and I take it as a challenge.”

Yadav, although having played 4 tests and 1 ODI for India, hasn’t earned a call-up to the T20 side. He feels bowlers need to be on their toes and think quickly in the shortest format of the game.

“Every ball in T20 can win you the match, so it’s important to read the situation well. You need variations. You can’t keep bowling the same deliveries to all batsmen,” the off-spinner said.

Although Jayant Yadav wants to represent Delhi in as many games as possible, he understands that the team needs to have strategies for different teams. “You have to take into consideration that teams in IPL have become very smart, every wicket is different, every team is different. So it all depends on that,” he concluded.

The Delhi Daredevils will go up against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday in their first game of the long tournament.