I was only focused about my own game and how I can improve further, says Ravindra Jadeja

The Champions Trophy debacle in 2017 and the finger-spinners' inability to check the run flow in most games resulted in the team management turning their head towards the wrist-spinning duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal and the duo have been a consistent fixture in the team since then. Although Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were a regular in the Test squad, a limited-over spot still eluded and for the Rajkot boy, it is a wait of exactly 480 days. Jadeja received a sudden lifeline as Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya got injured, vacating a spot in the line-up and the left-arm spinner grabbed the opportunity on both the hands and his four wickets yielded him the man of the match award.

Ravindra Jadeja shared that as he made a comeback in the One Day International format after almost 480 days, the match against Bangladesh would always be a memorable one for him. Jadeja had last played for the national side in an ODI in 2017.

"Even in Test cricket, because the last few series have been overseas, I haven't been getting chances consistently. So I was determined that whenever I get the chance I will perform, that's all that I can control. I was only focused about my own game and how I can improve further," Jadeja said in the post-match press conference.

Along with Jadeja’s remarkable comeback, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also snatched three wickets each, restricting Bangladesh to 173. It took a total of 36.2 overs for the Indian side to chase down the total with seven wickets to spare and stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma, scoring an unbeaten 83.

“On a slow wicket, you have to bowl with more of your own effort. On a normal wicket, the ball goes through quickly after bouncing so it doesn't give the batsman as much time. But on a slow wicket you have to bowl with more effort," Jadeja added.

After his performance against Bangladesh, Jadeja feels that he has to continuously work on himself to be a consistent player for his national side. With the World Cup approaching, he will focus on giving his best to the team, in any way he can.

“The World Cup is still some time away, we're going to play a lot of matches before that, and I can't comment on that yet. My ambition is to perform the way I did today whenever I get the opportunity,” he said.