Ravindra Jadeja didn’t bowl during Saurashtra's dominating win over Assam in the final round of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy – here’s why.
The victory ensured Saurashtra sealed the top position in the group, giving them a quarter-final berth. Jadeja, who starred with 12 wickets in his team’s resounding win over Delhi last week was a silent participant in the latest fixture. Coming in to bat at No.9, the three-time Ranji Trophy triple centurion scored a 28-ball 19 as Saurashtra piled on 474 in the first innings.
What’s more surprising is that he did not send down a single over in the match.
His limited participation raised doubts over his fitness especially when the Champions Trophy is on the horizon.
However, a member of the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) cleared the air on Jadeja’s fitness.
"He was not injured. We had just rested him on the field as a precautionary measure as he will part of India’s Champions Trophy squad," an SCA member was quoted as saying to The Indian Express.
🔽: Shivam Dube
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 31, 2025
🔼: Harshit Rana
One is a batting all-rounder, the other a bowler – who took three crucial wickets after coming on as a concussion sub.
How were they deemed "like-for-like"?
READ: https://t.co/BBOv8krSik#INDvENG #HarshitRana #ShivamDube pic.twitter.com/Oo2nKur8px
While Jadeja didn’t break a sweat with the ball, Saurashtra, who needed a bonus point victory for a quarter-final spot, were clinical. They skittled out Assam for 164 and 166 across day two and three, winning by an innings and 144 runs with Vishvarajsinh Jadeja replacing the senior on the field. Dharmendrasinh Jadeja (4-61 and 5-50) was adjudged the Player of the Match.
Jadeja is among the four spinners in India’s Champion's Trophy squad which begins on February 20 against Bangladesh. The other three in India’s spin flotilla are Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel.
Before their tournament opener, India will play three ODIs against England following the ongoing T20I leg. Jadeja will join the setup alongside Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav, who all played in the seventh round of the Ranji Trophy.
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