 Guwahati: A day after Ravindra Jadeja's ill-timed run-out dashed India's hopes in the Hyderabad humdinger against Australia, the dejected all-rounder said he had pursued the non-existent single in his eagerness to retain strike.
"After Sachin got out, I wanted to finish things off. I wanted to get the strike and thought the ball was going to a no man's land," Jadeja said.
"Instead, it went straight to the fielder (Cameron White) and I had come a long distance. It was difficult to get back to the crease," Jadeja lamented.
Comment: Sachin - ever onward
Incidentally, Jadeja was dismissed in a similar fashion in the fourth ODI in Mohali, where India lost by 24 runs.
"I feel very disappointed. We lost both the matches after getting so near," said the youngster.
With Sachin Tendulkar and Jadeja stitching together a good partnership, the target of 351 looked within striking distance.
Tendulkar and Jadeja added 32 for seventh wicket and with the Power Play on, the game seemed India's as long as Tendulkar was around.
But once the little champion got out after scoring a memorable 175, India crumbled with Jadeja following in the same over.
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"We could have made it easily. We were 18 runs away with more than two overs remaining," Jadeja said.
The defeat notwithstanding, one thing Jadeja will cherish forever is watching Tendulkar from the other end.
"It was great to play the partner's role in that epic innings of Tendulkar. He was very supportive and on every ball he was telling me to play my natural game. He was telling me to take my strokes and building my confidence. It's sad that we could not see the team through," Jadeja said.
However, the Saurashtra player, who drew rich praise from his Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne was confident that India would win the remaining two ODIs to clinch the series.
Full Coverage: Australia in India 2009
"In the last match, we gave Australia a very close game and we almost won it. If we can get near to 350, it means we can chase any total.
"In the previous one-dayer (in Mohali) also, we missed narrowly. We just have to be careful towards the end and we will win the series," Jadeja said. |
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