Basseterre (St Kitts): Just like his teammates, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja also knows that victories at home counts for little unless the team starts winning overseas and that’s what is the goal of this current as they get ready for four-Test series against West Indies.
“Nowadays, all people care about is how much you have won overseas in Tests and ODIs. So our focus is on that and we want to win here in the West Indies,” Jadeja, who made a case for his selection with figures of 3/16, said at post-match press conference.
“Everyone says that we win easily in India, so we want to change that thinking. We are a young side and each one of us is eager to win in overseas conditions. Fitness and energy is good in this side and the preparation has been good. We are looking forward to winning this Test series in the West Indies.”
Jadeja admitted that it was good to be a part of the longer format games, having last played five-day matches at home against South Africa.
“It feels good to be playing in the longer format after a long time. You have to be match and also fit for bowling, and I have been working on it. You have to be fit enough to be able to bowl 15-20 overs in a day.
“The way I bowled today felt like I am building towards it and getting back to my full fitness. The wicket was turning slow but there was good bounce available for us. So I was trying to bowl as per my line and length,” he added.
Like Ashwin, the left-arm spinner is also bracing up for tough humid conditions in the Caribbean islands.
“Mentally, we have to be prepared about hot and humid conditions here. But they are similar to the ones we experience when playing in the Indian summer. So our focus is on thinking about match situations and match conditions, for example when there are long partnerships.
“We have bowled as a unit today and we haven’t given away too many runs, which has been our main focus. As a bowling attack, our aim is to bowl three consecutive maiden overs and put pressure on the batsmen,” he added. .
PTI
