Ranji Trophy final: Jadeja feels it's not over yet

All-rounder Dharmendrasinh Jadeja is vouching for a good partnership to take Saurashtra through on day five morning in the Ranji Trophy final.

Slow left-arm orthodox Dharmendrasinh Jadeja is the highest wicket-taker (59) of the season from the Plate group.

Saurashtra all-rounder Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, who picked up six wickets on day four against Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy final, rushed to the batting nets to fix loose ends at the stroke of stumps.

Being five wickets and Cheteshwar Pujara down, Saurashtra has a mountain to climb on day five at the VCA ground.

REPORT| Sarwate's all-round show takes Vidarbha close to second title

Jadeja understands that he will be required to fire if the visitor has to chase its maiden Ranji title. “There is still hope, a good partnership can win us the game. All our main players are gone. There was a lot of pressure on Pujara who also got out,” he said.

“I go into bat or not, it all depends on what situation we are pushed into; based on that, we will play out our innings.”

'A good season'

Jadeja feels Sheldon Jackson [7 off 11 balls] had a great chance to play out the overs and take a fresh guard in the final morning. A rash shot off Akshay Wakhare uprooted his stumps with four overs to spare.

“We hoped he wouldn’t make a mistake. It would have been good had we not lost the fifth wicket. He could have formed a good partnership. But then, this is his natural game,” he added.

Slow left-arm orthodox Jadeja is the highest wicket-taker (59) of the season from the Plate group. Off-spinner Kamlesh Makvana’s average show put more pressure on the 28-year-old.

“The season has gone well for me, and the captain told me to keep at it. This is a crucial game, and if everybody would have contributed, it would have been good,” said Jadeja, who has grown in the shadow of the other Jadeja [Ravindra] who is out for national duty.

Pressure took a toll

“We have not played enough together. In two to three years, we have played around five games or so. It is good to have him around as he keeps advising how to bowl on which wicket.”

The target of 206, Jadeja reckons, is a good score. “We knew we could chase it down, that was a part of our plan. But once we lost wickets, it got us under a lot of pressure. This is a final, and you keep having thoughts in the head.”

Jadeja wants to maintain this form going into the next season. And as for the day five morning “playing natural cricket” will be the key.