“Somewhere at the back of my mind I knew that I was in contention in case a couple of regulars are rested”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Delhi Daredevils batsman Kedar Jadhav has announced that he was not surprised by his call-up to the national team for their three-match ODI tour of Bangladesh.

Jadhav actually received the call when he was watching X-Men with a couple of friends in Pune on Wednesday afternoon.

“I was thrilled but wasn’t so surprised,” Jadhav told ESPNcricinfo. “Somewhere at the back of my mind I knew that I was in contention in case a couple of regulars are rested.

“This is something that I have been working hard for all these years. I just hope that I can justify my selection if and when I get an opportunity in the XI.”

Even though he only scored 149 runs in 10 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches this year, Jadhav captured the attention of the national selectors when he scored 1,223 runs in the 2013-14 Ranji Trophy.

“With the IPL having prolonged the domestic season, it is imperative to do well in the IPL,” he said. “Considering the reach of the tournament, it is imperative to perform in IPL, irrespective of the kind of Ranji or Vijay Hazare (domestic 50-over) season you have. I am glad that I could continue scoring runs even during the IPL, especially when the team needed them the most.”