Kedar Jadhav not the kind to baulk at challenges

From a specialist batsman to someone whose off-breaks are proving to be more than handy, Kedar Jadhav believes that the key to his transformation is accepting challenges and knowing how to overcome them.

Jadhav has bowled 18 overs in four games taking 6/73 at a decent economy rate of 4.05.

“It’s all about taking responsibility and accepting the challenge that comes at you and then, coming out of the challenge successfully,” Jadhav said on the eve of their fifth ODI against New Zealand.

Jadhav, who’s playing in place of an indisposed Suresh Raina, bowled for the first time in international cricket when M.S. Dhoni gave him the ball ahead of the regular spin duo of Axar Patel and Amit Mishra on a seaming Dharamsala track in the first one-dayer.

“Here, you need to contribute if the captain is asking you to bowl (some) overs. You don’t have to bowl (just) as a part-time bowler. You need to take the responsibility with the ball or bat,” Jadhav said.

“I guess when you play for India, you have to contribute in every possible way you can. While playing in the IPL, I do that with wicketkeeping — by contributing rather than batting,” Jadhav said.

Jadhav said he varies his action according the the batsman so as to make it difficult to read.

“It’s both — a bit of my action and the pace I vary according to the batsmen that makes it difficult (for them) to read I guess. Obviously Mahi wants a few bowlers from the top five or six batsmen to bowl,” he added.