Jadeja was very impressive, got us back in the game: Sehwag

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: December 22, 2009

commentComment     Email This Post Email This Post     Printable version

Jadeja was very impressive, got us back in the game: Sehwag thumbnail

Cuttack: India’s stand-in skipper in the absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, said after India’s comfortable 7 wicket win in the third ODI against Sri Lanka that he was very impressed by young all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja who picked up career best bowling figures of 4 for 32 while adding that all the credit for India’s comeback in the game goes to the left-arm spinner.

“Jadeja was very impressive, that was the reason we could restrict them under 250. I am very impressed with Jadeja who bowled his 10 overs conceding just 32 runs and claiming four wickets. It’s a dream thing for a captain. Sri Lanka got a good start but we came back taking seven wickets from the 20th to 35th overs which was crucial. All credit to Jadeja,” said Sehwag, adding he had to bowl in between as the home side were India running three overs slow.

Sehwag also said that one of the biggest turning points in the game was the wicket of in-form Sri Lankan opener, Tillakaratne Dilshan, who once again was in a destructive mood, scoring 41 off just 18 balls. “Dilshan is in form, it’s difficult for any bowlers to stop runs from him. When Dilshan was batting, the run-rate was well about 10-12 runs but Ashish Nehra gave the breakthrough. After his dismissal, the run rate dipped,” Sehwag said at the post-match press conference.

Sehwag was all praise for the Indian bowlers who managed to restrict the Sri Lankans for a modest total of 239 on a batting pitch even when they had got off to a flying start and looked all set to score more than 300.

“Nehra’s experience worked. He conceded just 32 runs from his six odd overs in the middle to ensure that we remained in the game, whereas at one stage I thought they would score 300-400. I think Jadeja and Harbhajan bowled really well and Ishant Sharma came up with a very good three overs taking two wickets in two balls,” Sehwag said.

The Delhi dasher also defended his opening bowlers, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, both of whom had a poor start to the game, being smashed around by Tharanga and Dilshan. “It’s very difficult for fast bowlers to contain the batsmen. We are batting well and so are they. I told them to bowl in good areas so we can restrict them under 300 and then Dilshan got out,” Sehwag said.

Asked about the masterful knock from Sachin Tendulkar who hit the winning runs remaining unbeaten on 96, Sehwag said, “He is playing for over 20 years, he knows how to get runs as per the situation. He is the best player and batted as the situation demanded… that’s how we won the game.”

On India’s fielding, which has been the biggest concern in the last few games, he said, “I think we did better in the field today. Even when Robin Singh was there we dropped catches and misfielded. But he was very good in practice and drills. But it’s not in our hands whom to retain or not.”

Asked whether Yuvraj Singh was yet to recover fully as he was fielding on the boundary instead of his normal place at point, Sehwag said, “Yuvraj himself is the best guy to answer this question.”

Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,


WPSN comments




Related News Headlines

Cricketain Latest