The kind of cricketer I'm today is because of MS Dhoni, says Kedar Jadhav

The flattering rise of Kedar Jadhav – The all-rounder has been quite a revelation and has ticked a major box for the Indian side. Ahead of the World Cup, a tournament where India triumphed twice in 1983 and 2011 banking on immortal performances by two all-rounders (Mohinder Amarnath and Yuvraj Singh), the Maharashtra cricketer is aiming for something colossal.

2019 began on a promising note for the 33-year-old, who played a key role in India’s dominating wins in the 3rd ODI against Australia and the first two games in New Zealand. On Saturday, he picked up a crucial wicket Ross Taylor and scored a quickfire 22 with the willow.

Reflecting on it, he thanked MS Dhoni for being a great support system. He also pointed that he could bowl wherever Dhoni wanted him to, no matter what the outcome could be. He also thanked all the senior cricketers in the side including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for not letting the pressure get on to him.

“The kind of cricketer I am today is because of MS Dhoni. He has always encouraged me. He had seen me in in Zimbabwe first and in the New Zealand series at home in 2016. He just wanted two overs from me and luckily for me in my second over, I got two wickets and from thereon all the seniors gave me so much confidence that I don’t feel the pressure of a part-time bowler.

“I must thank Virat and Mahi bhai for letting me bowl exactly when I want to bowl. When a wicket falls, they immediately sneak in my overs so I am very lucky I think. In the past also, I have mentioned every time I have a question, I look at him and he tells me ‘you have to bowl here.. you have to bowl there.’ And I close my eyes and bowl there and get a wicket,” Jadhav said as quoted in India Today.

Not trying to be the main spinner

Before his debut, Kedar Jadhav picked just one wicket in List A cricket, but his development as an off-spinner has been terrific. He said to the press that he doesn’t try to be the main spinner and only tries to avoid boundary balls while rolling his arm over.

“I am not trying to become the main spinner. I am pretty much trying to be a good part-time bowler who does not leak runs. Most importantly, my captain.. when he throws the ball to me, he tells me to avoid bowling boundary balls and in that process, if you pick up wickets, that’s a bonus.

I feel most of the time the batsmen sometimes underestimate part-time bowlers and that is when they make mistakes. And that’s why I get lucky,” Jadhav said.

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