3rd ODI: ‘We have to keep the momentum going’

Jadeja optimistic about India’s form against England.

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja said the hosts were keen to carry their last match’s winning momentum through to the third One-Day International against England, according to The Times of India.

Jadeja played a crucial role in the last match, earning the man-of-the-match award for his 61 runs off 37 balls and two wickets for 12.

“We are very happy with the way we won our last match,” said Jadeja. “We just hope to carry forward the winning momentum and look forward to capturing the next game. We hope to do right things. We are very positive about today’s game.

“I did well in all three departments (of the game) in the last game. I will have the same thinking and will look to win it for India. I did not have much problem in bowling. I’ve always bowled well and don’t want to experiment much.”

Refusing to read too much into the slump in form of Virat Kohli, Jadeja said it was a part and parcel of every cricketer’s life.

“I don’t think it’s a worry. Kohli is doing well for quite a while. It happens in every cricketer’s life when you go through ups and downs. No doubt, if he does well, the confidence of the team goes high. Hope he does well for India today.”

Meanwhile, England batsam Eoin Morgan said it would hardly pile extra pressure on India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to be playing at his hometown Ranchi.



“I think he is always going to be under pressure. He is the captain of India,” said Morgan. “He has 1.2 billion people on his shoulders. He is a captain of a massive nation. The pressure is always going to be there. Being back in his home town might even give him some more pride to play for.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2013.