We were really positive today: Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja, adjudged Man-of-the-Match here on Friday, said the Indians did not want to let the 4-0 rout in the Test series impact their morale going into the shorter formats of the game.

“The team was upbeat. We were really positive out there today. We fielded very well. Those early run-out kept them on the back foot,” Jadeja said.

The all-rounder, who effected two vital run-outs and bowled his left-arm spinners with a fair measure of control, added, “It was nice that we got our victory here. We will be playing our first match against Australia in the triangular ODI series here on Sunday.”

Jadeja conceded it was not easy for the spinners to operate on the pitches here. “The ball does not grip the surface. So I tried to mix it up. Bowled slower and mixed my pace.”

Australian captain George Bailey said, “They (the Indians) really lifted their fielding. The four run-outs hurt us. We did not bat well.”

On the decision to shift Matthew Wade — the hero from the first game — from an opener's role to a middle-order slot, he said, “One of the things we wanted to do this week was to try different people in different slots. That Wadey was able to contribute in both the positions is pleasing.”

Leg-spinner Rahul Sharma, injured in the first game and bravely operating with a bandage on his bowling hand here, came in for praise from Bailey. “It was courageous of him to bowl with a big bandage on his hand. He does not turn the ball a great deal but gets good bounce. He bowled well.”