Ravindra Jadeja: I don't play for critics who change views after every series

Ravindra Jadeja at an event yesterday. Pic/SURESH KARKERA

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja yesterday batted for the Test cricket being here to stay despite the increasing popularity of the T20 version.

"If you look around the world, Test cricket is accepted everywhere. If you go to a stadium in a place like England, people have a dress code for Tests because they have respected the game all these years. I think T20 has its own place in cricket and so does Test cricket," said Jadeja during a promotional event at a city hotel yesterday.

Jadeja, 28, went wicketless in the two ODIs and one-off T20I against the West Indies.

Asked about his below par overseas performance, the Saurashtra player said: "I don't play cricket for critics, who change their views after every series. I play for myself and always try to give my best in all conditions."

The Indian team travel to Sri Lanka next to play three Tests, five ODIs and one T20I.

Jadeja said he is ready for the challenge. "I like to perform when there are challenges. In cricket, it's no fun when you get easy wickets, but when you have to fight and perform in challenging conditions, the feeling is something else," he said.

The southpaw welcomed the appointment of the new coaching set-up for Team India. "Whatever new experience is added to the team, is good for us. Whoever new comes in the team, they will share their experiences and we will get to learn from them. In a sport like cricket, you get to learn something from someone every day. I will also try to learn from their experiences by talking to them (the new coaches)."