No breaks for ‘disappointed’ Jadeja

Three months ago as the Indian team returned from West Indies with some much-needed rest in mind,Ravindra Jadeja chose to hit the nets instead of taking a break. “I did not perform well in West Indies and that was always at the back of my mind. My debut match against Sri Lanka in February this year was memorable as I scored 60 runs,but in the West Indies I didn’t do too well,” said Jadeja,who is just three ODIs old. He scored just seven runs in two one-day internationals in Kingston.

He said he was disappointed when the selectors decided not to include him in the squads for the tri-series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in Johannesburg. “One cannot expect players to perform in every match. I wish the selectors had persisted with me for one or two tournaments more and then decided whether I was capable enough or not,” said the 20-year-old.

He,however,looks like returning to his best after three outstanding knocks for Reliance I in the JP Atray Cricket Tournament in Chandigarh. With 200-odd runs and four wickets in three matches,he looks like the same player who caught the attention of national selectors with a strong all-round showing in the 2008-09 Ranji Trophy with 42 wickets and 739 runs.

“I am eagerly looking forward to the domestic season and can’t wait to get going. I want to repeat last year’s performance and play with a positive frame of mind. I know if I play consistently then I will surely make a comeback to the Indian team soon. I will be playing in the Irani Trophy,and I hope I can put in some noticeable performances there,” Jadeja said.