Management clear on me batting at number six, says Kedhar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav, the Indian middle-order-batsman has credited the team management for his consistent performance.

"It is good to be consistently playing for India and doing well, everybody is encouraging towards me, irrespective of how many times I have got injured. Every time I have got fit, I have walked into the team," International Cricket Council(ICC) quoted Jadhav as saying.

"Credit goes to the captain and management for backing me in my difficult times and this is my time [to] pay back the confidence and faith they have shown in my difficult times."

Jadhav was able to pick up the player-of-the-match award in Hyderabad on Saturday as he played a crucial knock of 81 not out stitching together a 141 run-unbroken stand with MS Dhoni enabling the Indian team to register a six-wicket win over the Aussies in the first ODI.

There have been huge speculations regarding the Indian middle-order but Jadhav and Dhoni did enough to dispel those concerns in the first ODI of the five-match series.

Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik have also been given chances as a finisher but Jadhav has very much made the number six position his own with good performances in the past year.

"It is more than one-and-a-half or two years [since I have been batting at No. 6]. Till 2017 January against England in India, I batted at No. 6 From there, the management was looking at me as a finisher".

"They have clearly told me that, 'you will be batting at No. 6 till the time you are there'. The management has been clear about everybody's role, and everybody is clear about what is expected of individual players."

Jadhav will look to be consistent in his performances going into the World Cup.

India takes on Australia in the second ODI of the five-match series on March 5 in Nagpur.