Jayant Yadav credits Rahul Dravid for his batting improvement

12/27/2016

Jayant Yadav has thanked India A coach Rahul Dravid for providing insights during his time with the A team, saying the batting great was always forthcoming to help a player out. The Haryana off-spinner described Ben Stokes’ scalp in the Visakhapatnam Test as his most memorable wicket.

“With Rahul bhai, you can talk on anything related to cricket. You can discuss with him about the mental space you are in, what you feel is lacking (in your game) and what's going for you. He takes into account everything and gives his ideas. If you like it, you can take it or you need not. That's the best part about Rahul bhai. He just lets you be,” Yadav told Cricbuzz website.

After contributing crucial knocks of 35 and 27* on his Test debut in Vizag, Yadav reached his first milestone in Mohali, where he scored a fifty. The best, however, was yet to come, as he scored his maiden Test century in Mumbai and shared in a 241-run stand with Virat Kohli to set up the victory.

Yadav was picked as a specialist spinner, but his batting ability has surprised many.

“I always knew that I could bat. It all started with the double hundred I scored (in a Ranji game) for Haryana, and after that, I had the added responsibility (of doing well with the bat too). Viru bhai (Virender Sehwag), who was leading us in that season, sent me to bat at No 4. During the India A games as well I batted at No 6 or No 7,” 26-year-old Yadav said.

“Credit should go to my coach Rahul Dravid for letting me explore my batting abilities. Until and unless you go out there and bat under pressure, you won't know what you are capable of. This season I have been working a lot on my batting and it is paying me dividends.”

Fielding is an aspect the current Indian team has stressed on. Yadav also spoke of it.

“I would always be an all-rounder who bowls first and bats. As far as fielding is concerned, I feel you may have a bad day with bat or ball or with both, but one thing you have in your control is the intensity and commitment while fielding. The fielding standards in our team have gone up and I feel fielding is one skill you have under your control,” he said.

“The goal is just to try and optimize my potential, and that's the best you can do. Having good preparations before heading to a Test match, and look to outdo the batsmen.”

Asked about his most memorable wicket in international cricket, Yadav said, “The most memorable wicket would have to be Ben Stokes. It was my debut (Test) game (in Visakhapatnam) and I bowled a good ball to get a good batsman out. You only dream of having such wickets.”

Jayant Yadav credits Rahul Dravid for his batting improvement

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