I bowl to my strengths: Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja

After a series of disappointing performances in the World Cup T20 2014 and a poor start to the Indian Premier League with the ball, Ravindra Jadeja has finally turned on the screws in the T20 format, delivering on two consecutive occasions against quality teams.

The left-arm spinner picked up 4 wickets for just 12 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders and followed up with a tight spell of 1-23 in a high scoring affair against Delhi Daredevils.

On how he approaches the game, the 25-year-old said: “If the ball is turning then that is one way of bowling and if there is no turn then it is a different ball game. I try to bowl dot balls and bowl in the good areas and mix my deliveries. Vary the pace and at times bowl outside the off-stump.”

With every other bowler being hit around, Jadeja was the only bowler who escaped the punishment. On how he managed to do it, the all-rounder said: “This is T20 cricket and they were going to take their chances. I was thinking of not bowling to their strength. My effort was to try and bowl where the batsman can’t hit the big shots and luckily I was able to bowl in right areas.”

The Daredevils opener Murali Vijay was tied down after a good start to his innings and was eventually caught at long-off of the bowling off Jadeja. Jadeja said that the dismissal was well thought-out.

Speaking to the official website of the IPL, he added: “He hits well over midwicket and mid-on in the slog overs so I thought of bowling to him outside off-stump. If he hits a good shot then there is nothing much I can do.”

With the top 3 doing bulk of the work, the CSK lower middle order has hardly had any playing time at the crease. Jadeja said that he adjusts to it by spending more time at the nets.

He said: “I put in extra time in the nets. Considering that there could be a situation where I am needed to score 15-17 runs off the last over, I should be ready.”