People only care about the overseas wins and we will work towards it: Jadeja

INDIA ALL-ROUNDER Ravindra Jadeja, who is currently playing the second warm-up game against WICB XI ahead of the first Test at Antigua on July 21, spoke about the need to bring a change in people’s mind-set about India’s performances overseas. 

The 27-year-old believes the home victories are not acknowledged by fans as much as the away victories are and hence the Gujarat-born cricketer wants to give it all to win the Caribbean series. As reported by PTI, he said,

"Nowadays, all people care about is how much you have won overseas in Tests and ODIs. So our focus is on that and we want to win here in the West Indies. Everyone says that we win easily in India, so we want to change that thinking. We are a young side and each one of us is eager to win in overseas conditions. Fitness and energy is good in this side and the preparation has been good. We are looking forward to winning this Test series in the West Indies."

Jadeja, who picked three for 16 in the practice game conceded that he was happy to again be a part of the longer format of the game, having last played Test against South Africa in late 2015.

"It feels good to be playing in the longer format after a long time. You have to be match and also fit for bowling, and I have been working on it. You have to be fit enough to be able to bowl 15-20 overs in a day. The way I bowled today felt like I am building towards it and getting back to my full fitness. The wicket was turning slow but there was good bounce available for us. So I was trying to bowl as per my line and length."

The all-rounder also said that the team had braced up for the Caribbean conditions ahead of the tour. 

"Mentally, we have to be prepared about hot and humid conditions here. But they are similar to the ones we experience when playing in the Indian summer.”