We fell short by 20 to 30 runs: Jadhav

“The wicket was on the slower side and the ball was turning, our actual plan was to look for 250 to 260 but we fell short by 20 to 30 runs," said India all-rounder Kedar Jadhav.

Kedar Jadhav scored a valuable 52, that hauled India past the 200-mark on a difficult pitch, and eventually the score proved difficult for the rival to chase.

Kedar Jadhav had to bide his time for a long batting stint. Playing in the lower middle-order in a team that has batting riches atop the pole, means that Jadhav gets just a few overs to settle in and biff around the park.

But on Saturday in the World Cup game against Afghanistan at the Hampshire Bowl, the diminutive and stocky batsman walked in during the 31st over after Virat Kohli got dismissed. Jadhav scored a valuable 52, that hauled India past the 200-mark on a difficult pitch, and eventually the score proved difficult for the rival to chase.

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“The wicket was on the slower side and the ball was turning, our actual plan was to look for 250 to 260 but we fell short by 20 to 30 runs. We made up for it in the field and the bowlers did well. Obviously we had belief in our death-specialist-bowlers, we had (Jasprit) Bumrah and (Mohammed Shami) and we knew we were just one wicket away,” Jadhav told the media. “We had belief in both our fast bowlers and we know that one boundary will always go in the death over. It could either be a good shot or an edge,” he added.   

Asked about his batting-approach, Jadhav said: “Our top-order is very good and we usually get very less time. But today we were conscious about getting more balls and I came at six and we needed to assess and plan the innings. So it was important to face those extra deliveries upfront and plan the ideal score. The pitch played slightly slower in the first half. I try to learn a lot from how Dhoni bhai bats, the wicket wasn't flat and we had to take time and they had quality spinners.”