After having taken four wickets on his return to one-day cricket after a gap of 480 days, Ravindra Jadeja looked like the boatman who just survived a storm.
But the Saurashtra left-arm-spinner refused to look too far ahead when asked if he had done enough to bring himself back into contention for next year's World Cup.
"The World Cup is still some time away, we're going to play a lot of matches before that, and I can't comment on that yet. My ambition is to perform the way I did today whenever I get the opportunity," Jadeja told reporters after his man-of-the-match performance against Bangladesh at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday night.
For now, Jadeja just wants to enjoy the moment. After all, it was only on Wednesday that he was asked to fly to Dubai.
"I didn't know what was going on here because I was playing Vijay Hazare Trophy in India. I didn't know that Axar Patel got injured. The day before I got a call from a selector who said I might have to go to Dubai. It was a very good news for me," he said.
"So I am very happy now. I will always remember this comeback because I returned to the team after a gap of around 480 days. The earlier gaps have not been this long."
Jadeja went wicketless in his previous three matches, including the 2017 Champions Trophy final in which Pakistan beat India in stunning fashion. But Jadeja says he has nothing to prove when India take on their arch-rivals in the Asia Cup Super Four game in Dubai on Sunday.
"I don't have to prove anything to anyone. What my ability is, I need to sharpen it. I don't have to show anyone what I can do. I need to challenge myself," the 29-year-old all-rounder said.
Opportunities for Jadeja have been few and far between as India have played almost all their Test matches this year abroad.
And Jadeja says he has to grab every chance he gets, keeping in mind the competition he faces in spin department from Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.
"Even in Test cricket, because the last few series have been overseas, I haven't been getting chances consistently," he said.
"So I was determined that whenever I get the chance I will perform, that's all that I can control. I was only focused on my own game and how I can improve further."
Jadeja also grabbed his chance in England when he replaced the injured Ashwin for the final Test, taking seven wickets in the game and scoring an unbeaten 86 in the first innings.
"Last few Test series were away so I didn't play in it. I was concentrating on what is in my control, how to improve my game in away conditions. When I got a chance in England, I did well," he said.
"And here unfortunately, Axar (Patel) got injured and I got my opportunity and did well."
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com
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