I always want to lead the side with performances: Kedar Jhadav

Kedar Jadhav, who played a blinder to guide Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) achieve a 15-run win over Delhi Daredevils in their IPL 2017 match on Saturday, has insisted that he always wants to lead the side with performances and never wanted to be a player who will just get into the side.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, RCB rode on Jadhav's 69 off just 37 balls to reach 157 for 8 in 20 overs at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Jadhav's superb knock was studded with five fours and as many sixes.

Chasing 158, Delhi messed up in their chase as they ended at 142 for 9.

"I have never wanted to be a player who will just get into the side; I have always wanted to be the player who will lead the side in matches with performances," ESPNcricinfo quoted him as saying after the match.

"This is how I train my mind and prepare. Whatever you are seeing is my approach, and I am converting it."

The 32-year-old, while crediting his first-class experience for 10 years, further asserted that currently he is in a phase where he is hitting the ball well.

"The experience part is also there. I have been playing first-class cricket for the past ten years. Everything is going for me. It is the management's decision to bat me higher, and I am supporting them with performances like these."

One of the highlights of Jadhav's stellar knock was the way he paced his inning. After consuming 17 deliveries for his 15, he launched a savage attack, hitting 54 off the next 20.

Veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra was one of the bowlers who bore the brunt of Jadhav's attack, conceding 24 off the 13th over, including two sixes and two fours.

It was not just slogging but the strokes he played were calculated during the entire game.

Revealing more about his game, the right-handed batsman said, "At the age of 15, I was improvising. Once I got power, I started hitting big shots. I keep all the options open and just react to the ball. I just react to the ball - whatever ball comes - because I can play almost all the shots.