Kedar Jadhav played a handy cameo with both bat and ball during India’s win in the second ODI against New Zealand. Jadhav came in to bat when India needed a push at the end of their innings and he provided just that. He scored an unbeaten 22 runs off 10 balls to take India’s total to 324. In the bowling department, Jadhav bowled a useful spell of 1/35 which included the wicket of the dangerous Ross Taylor.
Dhoni helped Jadhav with his line and length when he is asked to bowl by the captain. In the last ODI also, Dhoni was heard giving instructions to Jadhav on where to bowl. Now Kedar also credited Dhoni for his contribution in his international career after the ODI in Mount Maunganui.
“The kind of cricketer I am today is because of MS Dhoni. He has always encouraged me. He had seen me in Zimbabwe first and in the New Zealand series at home in 2016, he just wanted two overs from me and luckily for me in my second over, I got two wickets and from there on all the seniors – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma – have been very encouraging. They give me so much confidence that I don’t feel the pressure of a part-time bowler,” Jadhav told the broadcasters after the match.
“I must thank Virat and Mahi bhai for letting me bowl exactly when I want to bowl. When a wicket falls, they immediately sneak in my overs so I am very lucky I think.”
“In the past also, I have mentioned every time I have a question, I look at him (Dhoni) and he tells me ‘you have to bowl here…. you have to bowl there.’ And I close my eyes and bowl there and get a wicket.”
