Playing their first home game on Saturday, the Royal Challengers Bangalore got off to a shaky start against the Delhi Daredevils. Their top-order struggled and it looked like the quality attack of the Daredevils would hold sway throughout the innings. However, RCB’s in-form Kedar Jadhav looked like he was playing a different bowling unit on a different surface.

Jadhav, a naturally aggressive batsman, essayed a blazing innings that upset the rhythm of the Delhi bowlers. The authority with which he constructed his knock was a reflection of his fine form and with RCB missing their batting mainstays, Jadhav could well be their key man as the season progresses.

“I am in a phase where I am hitting the ball well,” Jadhav said. “The experience part is also there. I have been playing first-class cricket for the past ten years. Everything is going well for me. I can bring the best out of me as long as I am facing more balls. It is the management’s decision to put me higher in the line-up and I am supporting them with performances like these,” said Jadhav at the post-match press conference here on Sunday.

Apart from his daring approach, Jadhav’s shot selection took many by surprise. As he began his assault, the Maharashtra batsman found boundaries with an array of shots. Be it the inside-out hits, his trusted pull-shot or the short-arm jabs, Jadhav’s   unorthodox batting enthralled the Bengaluru crowd and took the momentum away from Delhi.

“Ever since I started playing first-class cricket, I have been trying all kinds of shots. I have never wanted to be a player who will just get into the side. I want to be a player who will guide my team with my performances. This is how I train my mind and prepare. When I am in the middle, I keep my options open and I am able to pull off different kinds of shots, ” he offered. 

Jadhav wasn’t the first-choice player for the Challengers last season and the 32-year-old revealed that the time on the sidelines played a big part in his transformation as a player.

“Last year I didn’t play too many games and that gave me good time to work on my fitness and my batting. I got enough time to train with our trainer Shankar Basu and it has definitely transformed my game. I am feeling much stronger and fitter. I have lost seven kgs and I am feeling more confident,” he said.