Ravindra Jadeja, India's hero with the ball in the Jaipur ODI on Sunday, says he wants to win matches for the country with the bat too.
Jadeja took two wickets for 29 runs in ten overs, including two maidens, to play a crucial role in India's thrilling one-run last ball victory over South Africa in the first One-Day International.
"In future if I get a chance, I am hoping to contribute with the bat too and win matches for my country. On two occasions I got opportunities to perform with the ball and I did well on those two occasions. Similarly, if I get a chance with the bat I will try and do well with the bat too," said Jadeja, better-known for his batting abilities.
This is the second time the 21-year-old was named man of the match. On the previous occasion too he got the prize after he bowled a match-winning spell of four for 32 in ten overs against Sri Lanka in Cuttack in December.
He revealed that he was just looking to bowl at the stumps and not trying anything after being introduced in the 10th over of the innings, with fielding restrictions still in place and South Africa well-placed on 60 for one after nine overs.
"I was bowling in the Powerplay so I was just looking to bowl at the stump and not bowl it wide outside the off-stump. I was just looking to bowl stump to stump, not give away easy runs and put them under pressure," he said.
The youngster paid rich tribute to Sachin Tendulkar, who dived full length at fine leg to stop a certain boundary, which also proved quite crucial in the final analysis.
"Tendulkar saved one run by stopping that boundary which proved crucial in the end. It was very important -- that one run which he had saved. In the end we won by only one run, so it was very important as you can see," he said.
Meanwhile, India captain Mahendra Singh slammed his bowlers for their poor showing in the final over against South Africa's tailenders that nearly saw them losethe match.
Wayne Parnell (49 from 47 balls) and Dale Steyn (35 from 19 deliveries) brought South Africa back from the end with a blazing 65-run partnership in a mere 38 deliveries for the ninth wicket.
"So many runs were needed by their tailenders but you don't expect your best bowlers to give so many runs in the end. The bowlers need to do better," Dhoni said after the match.
