Ready to bat wherever the team wants me to: Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav, who has earned his first national call-up following an impressive Ranji season with Mahasrashtra, where he stacked up 1223 runs, and an array of eye-catching performances as a finisher with his IPL team Delhi Daredevils, said that he is ready to adjust to the team needs and bat wherever the team wants him to in the Bangladesh ODI series that starts from June 15.

When asked about what role in the batting order he would be comfortable with, he said: “I’m just looking forward to performing in Bangladesh and bat wherever my team management wants me to. I’m ready to adjust because the middle-order is so packed. I’ve to be realistic.”

The 29-year-old considers the out-of-favour Indian opener Virender Sehwag as his idol. Having played with him in the Indian Premier League, of his influence in his batting style, he said: “Viru paaji was my idol growing up. And whenever I spoke to him, he always told me to bat the way I’m comfortable with, no matter who says what. During the 2012-13 season, I got out a lot of times going for big strokes. So I decided to cut off the airy strokes, and once I started playing more shots through the ground runs started to come.”

Despite being consistent in the domestic circuit, Jadhav hasn’t found the national chances coming by easily. On whether playing for a weaker side like Maharashtra in the Indian domestic circuit has hindered his chances, he said: “One needs to have the talent to perform. As long as talent is there, it doesn’t matter where you come from. And if you show consistency and use maximum use of that talent then the rest will be taken care off. I have been playing well in domestic cricket and I did play in couple of A tours. So I knew I was on the right track.”