“I was just backing my strength,” says Ravindra Jadeja after a phenomenal performance against KKR

Chennai Super Kings seemed down and out at 142 for 6 while chasing KKR’s 172 in their latest IPL 2021 fixture. Their star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, however, had other ideas. Seizing the occasion and accepting the pressure like he often does, the southpaw punished KKR’s Prasidh Krishna with much impunity.

Jadeja plundered 22 runs off the penultimate over of the match with the help of two boundaries and two sixes and put CSK in commanding position of the tie. Deepak Chahar scored the winning run on the final ball of the match.

In the post-match press conference, Jaddu acknowledged that the final over was the turning point of the game. He also acknowledged the strong start Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis had provided CSK with in the Powerplay.

“The runs in the second-last over turned out to be the match-winning over for us. But Rutu and Faf gave us a good start. You need to be collective as a unit, whether with bat or ball.

“I was just backing my strength. He was bowling with fine leg and square leg up. I thought he would bowl full outside off, and slow short ball. I thought he would give one ball up, and luckily I connected well.”

Needing to defend just four runs in the final over, Sunil Narine did extremely well. He dismissed both Jadeja and Sam Curran and threatened to take the contest to a Super Over. However, Deepak Chahar cleared the fielders inside the circle on the final ball and secured a thrilling win for CSK.

Ravindra Jadeja was recently in the UK with the Indian Test side. He stressed that it is difficult to transition from red-ball cricket to white-ball cricket and had been working on his bat swing in the nets.

“It is difficult. After you have played five-day cricket and then to come to white-ball cricket, I was working on my bat swing. I wanted to repeat whatever I was doing,” he added.

Meanwhile, CSK bowling coach and former Indian pacer L Balaji heaped praise on Ravindra Jadeja’s batting cameo. Comparing it to an almost-similar match-winning knock that Jaddu had played against KKR last season, Balaji said, “I think, exactly one year back in Dubai, the second game against KKR, Jaddu won us the match in the last over. I recollected and when Ravi was playing, I believed he would do some kind of magic and he has improved his batting under pressure.”