India’s gain could be Lancashire’s loss. Dheeraj Jadhav, who is preparing to join the national team after a sparkling season with Egerton in the Bolton League, has come in for fulsome praise from Lancashir county coach Mike Watkinson — and, despite leaving his club on the eve of key end-season matches, an offer to play for the county next season.In the 17 matches that he has played so far, Jadhav has accumulated eight centuries and five fifties, breaking Mark Waugh’s league record of 1,600 runs and coming close to achieving the target he’d set for himself before the season.And his abilities as an opener have clearly impressed Watkinson. ‘‘He has a very solid technique’’, the former fast bowler told The Indian Express today. ‘‘He could be the perfect Test opener for the variety that exists in his batting — his ground strokes, the ability to play shots and his keenness to bat for long.”That’s the result of a decision Jadhav made at the start of the season, to concentrate on batting for longer hours. ‘‘Once you’re set, batting is all about converting 25s into 50s and 50s into 100s. That had been my goal and I’m happy with my performance,’’ he says.One thing’s for sure, Jadhav is playing with a certain amount of confidence. It comes, perhaps, from his belief within and from Greg Chappell’s words pre-season that keep ringing in his ear everytime he’s on a cricket field.After scoring a quick 45 in the practice match at Bangalore in July, Jadhav was in the dressing room when Chappell walked in. ‘‘I like your attitude and the way you have gone about with your batting. I guess it won’t be long before you get a chance,’’ Chappell had told Jadhav.His impact on Egerton — and, indeed, on the region — has been similar. Jadhav is amused to find his name in the local newspapers almost every day. For a batsman who’s really been on the fringes of the Indian team, the local media has taken a keen interest in his batting.‘‘Every shot, the timing, the number of shots I played in the air.the ground shots, the strokes, fours and sixes. Everything is jotted down,’’ he says. Welcome to pressure.
