I am happy to bat at No. 9: Jayant

“I have always been a handy batsman, ever since started playing in junior cricket. But as I came up the ranks, I always wanted to build this side of my game and my Ranji Trophy team really helped me do it,” said Yadav after making a superb 104 and, more crucially, adding a record 241 runs for the eighth wicket with skipper Virat Kohli who made a magnificent 235, on day four of the fourth Test against England. The duo’s heroics had virtually dashed the visitors’ hopes of fighting their way back into the game and the series before the bowlers pushed them to the edge by taking six wickets with only 182 on board in the second innings. 

“Even though I was batting down, I had responsibility so taking that responsibility, you really grow as an all-rounder player, I would say a holistic development of a player,” said the 26-year-old Delhi-born player who plays for the neighbouring Haryana in the Ranji Trophy. “I scored my double hundred at No. 9, I scored my first Test hundred at No. 9, I am happy at No. 9,” added the three-Test old player, referring to his double century against Karnataka at Hubballi three seasons ago. Yadav said his first goal when he came on to bat with Kohli was to get to his second half century in Tests. “To be very honest, when I came out to bat in the morning, I was just vying for the fifty because I was just 20 runs short. I just went with the flow and things just kept happening,” he said. Yadav, who hit 15 fours in his 244-ball essay, was the more aggressive batsman.