JAYANT Yadav is in no hurry to move up the batting order, despite making history with the first century by an India number nine.In just his third Test appearance, off-spinning all-rounder Jayant compiled 104 in Mumbai on Sunday and shared in a record-breaking partnership of 241 for India’s eighth wicket with skipper Virat Kohli (235).
Jayant also went on to claim the key scalp of Joe Root as India, after claiming a mammoth first-innings lead of 231 through their lower-order heroics, reduced England to 182-6.
Reflecting on his batting, the 26-year-old – who boasts a double-century in first-class cricket from number nine – insisted he is not seeking a promotion, having registered impressive scores of 35, 27 not out and 55 in the three innings that preceded his maiden Test ton.
“I scored my double-hundred at number nine; I scored my first Test hundred at number nine; I am happy at number nine,” said Jayant.
Jayant also hailed the input of Kohli, who continued his supreme form by posting the biggest score by an India captain in Tests.
“I just had a very good mindset with Virat. Whenever you are batting with Virat things feel much easier and he made everything more comfortable,” Jayant told Sky Sports.
“It was just a great partnership. Watching Virat batting, it’s completely different from the television. You feed off his energy, you feed off his mindset.”
Jayant was particularly pleased to shine with the bat after failing to make an impression in England’s first innings.
“I think if you can contribute with any skill you should work on it and I’ve been working on it,” he said of his batting.
“I really take pride [in my batting]. In the first innings I went wicket-less, so I wanted to contribute with the bat.”(Omnisport.com)