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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Dhoni wants all-rounder Jadeja to 'step up'

Dhoni wants all-rounder Jadeja to 'step up'

March 06, 2015 21:58 IST
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India's Ravindra Jadeja blows a kiss after dismissing West Indies captain Jason Holder on Friday

India's Ravindra Jadeja blows a kiss after dismissing West Indies captain Jason Holder on Friday. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Holders India marched into the quarter-finals of the World Cup with their fourth consecutive win but all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's form with the bat has left captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni a worried man.

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Left-arm spinner Jadeja has three triple centuries in India's first-class cricket, but has scored 3, 2 and 13 in his three outings with the bat in the tournament.

The 26-year-old walked into bat at number seven on Friday with India tottering at 107-5 against West Indies chasing 183 for victory but his innings ended with a miscued hook shot off Andre Russell after a 27-run stand with Dhoni.

Dhoni, who took India home with an unbeaten 45, was not amused and told Jadeja it is time to step up.

"He needs to improve and needs to step up really. We have a lot of faith in him but at the end of the day you can't really play with hope," Dhoni told reporters at the WACA.

"What you want is actual performance on the field.

"He has that capability, he is definitely talented. He needs to keep believing in himself.

"Every batsman is tested in a few areas. They will bowl short-pitched deliveries to him, he will have to find a way in which he can tackle it."

Indian player Ravindra Jadeja plays a shot against the West Indies on Friday 

Indian player Ravindra Jadeja plays a shot against the West Indies on Friday. Photograph: Vipin Pawar/Solaris Images

India also have Akshar Patel in their squad, who bowls left-arm spin and bats in the lower order. Jadeja has been preferred over him because of his batting.

Yet Dhoni said another option for India would be to move Jadeja, who has taken six wickets in the tournament, higher up the batting order.

"The second option will be we try to give him a platform where he doesn't have to worry," Dhoni said.

"He goes and freely plays his big shots.

"We'll have to assess all of that and we'll have to give him a bit more liberty to play his big shots."

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