The Ravindra Jadeja show is on in Eng

BIRMINGHAM: Apart from their cricket of course, the one precious thing that Shikhar Dhawan and Ravindra Jadeja could be fiercely proud of are their moustaches. Not exactly handlebar, pencil, walrus, whiskers or the milkshake drinking ones -- they sport the kind that Indians love when a wishful moment allows them to twirl it with pride.

There've been quite such moments for this duo since the start of 2013. Drubbing Australia and now helping Team India to be reckoned as firm favourites for the Champions Trophy title, belting centuries at will, mastering the art of five-wicket hauls -- Dhawan and Jadeja seem have a new reason with each passing game to keep twirling even more.

The two cricketers -- who weren't quite sure until maybe six months ago if they'd make the grade for national selection -- are now busy setting hirsute trends for the upper lip, thanks to a massive fan-following.

"We don't care about what the other teams do. We are focused on our performance and if we're winning then that's what matters," says Jadeja, when asked if India are title favourites now in England. His answer is as nonchalant as it could be if you had perhaps asked him why members of most other teams participating in the tournament here seem averse to growing facial hair. Why would he care?

Jadeja rates his Tuesday performance against West Indies, his first five-wicket haul in a One-dayer, as one of his best ever. In less than six months, he has good enough performances to rate his bests already. That is certainly a high any cricketer looks for. "In the past I used to make a lot of plans and strategies going into a match but could never translate them (on the field). Now I've stopped doing all that and just go with the match situation," he says. "I don't think much."

It seems like it becomes very confusing to Jadeja, or even Dhawan, if you ask them a question about match theories and strategies, cricketing techniques and player mindsets. You try and then simplify the question: So, what do you think is the recipe for the recent success?

Jadeja's answer (in verbatim): "The batsmen are scoring runs, bowlers are taking wickets, and fielders are doing a very good job on the field." It has to be some clarity of thought -- I have a nice moustache and I'll keep twirling it -- that begins to reflect immediately.

Finally, it's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who he revers the most. When asked what he has to say about 'Sir' tag he's been given, Jadeja doesn't think for a moment before saying "Mahi bhai ne diya, rakh liye (Dhoni gave, I accepted)."

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Shweta Pandey

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