Ravindra Jadeja Discusses His Journey from White Ball Cricket to Test Matches

Ravindra Jadeja, a seasoned all-rounder for India, shared that he initially did not envision himself playing Test cricket. He always thought his strength lay in white-ball cricket. "When I started, I didn't realise that I will play this many games for India in Test cricket. I always believed white ball was my forte and wanted to establish myself there," he stated.

Jadeja's cricket journey has been significantly influenced by two individuals named Mahendra. His childhood coach, Mahendra Singh Chauhan, and former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni have both played pivotal roles in his career. Speaking on a podcast with Ravichandran Ashwin, Jadeja explained how these two figures shaped his path in cricket.

Influential Figures in Jadeja's Career

Jadeja began playing cricket at a young age in Jamnagar, under the guidance of his coach Mahendra Singh Chauhan. "I started playing in Jamnagar, at a ground called Cricket Bungalow, at the age of 8-9. My coach, who is still training at the same ground, is also from Bihar and his name is Mahendra Singh Chauhan. I have told this to Mahi bhai as well that my cricket journey is between two Mahendras – Mahendra Singh Chauhan & Mahendra Singh Dhoni," Jadeja said.

Chauhan, who was a police officer, instilled in Jadeja the importance of fitness. "He used to be a police officer, his mindset was that a sportsperson should be at the peak of his fitness. He used to believe that batting and bowling can be managed but one has to run a lot. My fitness level and fielding skills can be attributed to me running 15-20 kms around Jamnagar," he added.

Dhoni's Influence and Kohli's Aggression

Jadeja described Dhoni as unparalleled in greatness when asked to sum him up in one word. "There is no one word to describe his greatness. He is on top of everyone," he remarked. Both Jadeja and Ashwin were integral to Dhoni's strategies during their time with India and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

The discussion also highlighted Virat Kohli's aggressive approach in Test cricket. Jadeja noted Kohli's determination to take 20 wickets in every Test match as a standout quality. "It was his positive approach – especially in Tests – the special thing about Virat is that he always wanted the team to pick 20 wickets in a Test match, so he never gives up at all," Jadeja said.

Kohli recently concluded his Test career with impressive statistics: 9,230 runs across 123 matches, averaging 46.85 with 30 centuries and 31 fifties.

Jadeja's reflections on his career reveal how key influences and personal beliefs have shaped his journey from aspiring cricketer to established player across formats.

With inputs from PTI