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Million dollar boy Jadeja starting to show his worth
It took Ravindra Jadeja just two matches in the IPL to show why he could be worth a fortune. To Chennai Super Kings, he's worth two million dollars plus, in a move many considered bloated and risky. But Jadeja insists he will deliver the best his talent allows him.
It took Ravindra Jadeja just two matches in the IPL to show why he could be worth a fortune. To Chennai Super Kings, he's worth two million dollars plus, in a move many considered bloated and risky. But Jadeja insists he will deliver the best his talent allows him.
"I hope to maintain this form but it's wrong to assume that I'm concentrating only on the IPL. To me, the entire season is important," said Jadeja, after an all-round show that helped CSK thrash Deccan Chargers here on Saturday.
GAINING ATTENTION
One of the few players for whom IPL has been a career blessing, Jadeja was thrust into the limelight after shining for Rajasthan Royals in the first edition, prompting Shane Warne to earmark him for future success. An India call-up also came his way and Jadeja seemed destined for an exciting career. But a slump quickly followed when he was banned from playing in the 2010 IPL due to a contractual dispute. He has been picked quite regularly in the ODI team since the tour of England last year but hasn't scored a 50 since early September.
Remind Jadeja about his topsy-turvy showing in the past and he remains calm. "Right now I'm not thinking on those lines. Whatever talent I have, I want to use it all for my team, be it as a batsman or a bowler. That to me is most important."
ALL-ROUND PACKAGE
Jadeja felt being an all-rounder is the way to go forward in T20. “Having a few all-rounders increases the options for any team. Players like (Dwayne) Bravo and (Albie) Morkel can always change the game,” said Jadeja, who returned figures of five for 16 and made a quickfire 48, ironically against the team that had tied for the highest for him in the IPL auctions with the CSK before Chennai splurged an undisclosed sum in the tie-breaker to acquire him.
“Apart from batting, I have been working on my bowling as well. But you need luck to get five wickets in a T20 match," said Jadeja.
So how does he approach bowling in T20? “I try to think what the batsman might want to do before each delivery. But I’ll stick to bowling flat and quick. Taking wickets in one match doesn't mean I will suddenly start tossing up the ball.”
