Last Update: January 23, 2023, 22:10 IST
Ravindra Jadeja last played for India in August last year. (PTI photo)
Ravindra Jadeja was out of action for nearly five months during which he underwent knee surgery and thus missed the T20 World Cup and the tour of New Zealand and Bangladesh last year.
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been making steady comebacks at the international level and was out of action for nearly five months following an injury during last year’s Asia Cup that ended his T20I game. World Cup expectation.
He underwent knee surgery and is ready to make a competitive return after undergoing rehabilitation. Earlier this month, he was also included in India’s squad for the first two Tests against Australia, but with a rider: subject to fitness.
And to cap it off, the 34-year-old will play a Ranji Trophy game for Saurashtra against Tamil Nadu from Tuesday in Chennai.
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“I feel good to be back on the field. Very excited. Hopefully it will be good as a team and also as an individual,” Jadeja, who will also lead Saurashtra, told reporters.
For Jadeja, his first priority is to regain 100 per cent fitness, be match ready and then focus on sharpening his skills.
“…look my first priority is to get on the field and be fit…to be 100 per cent fit. Once I am 100 per cent fit, I will work more on my skills, be it batting or bowling. Now, my first priority is fitness…” he said.
Though Jadeja has been practicing at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for nearly three weeks, he admitted that nothing comes close to playing in a real match and hence decided to play in Saurashtra’s final Group B match.
“I was in NCA for 20 days. I was batting and bowling. The scenario of the match is different. I wanted a game before the Australia series, that’s why I am here.”
Although Jadeja is not feeling any discomfort, he admits that he is not as confident as he has been considering the time he has spent away from cricket.
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He said, ‘Not really…after five months I am playing competitive cricket, so initially you don’t feel confident. But of course you get better and better as you go along. Injuries are part of any sport. If you get injured, you have to start from scratch. Same thing in cricket,” he said.
“I was out of action for 5 months. I have to build my fitness. Once I get the confidence, I will definitely work on my skills and I will get better day by day.”
Jadeja revealed that the surgery was for a ligament tear.
“You felt bad. Nobody wants to get injured at your peak. It’s part of the game. You have to keep that in mind and be prepared for it. There’s nothing you can do. There’s no guarantee that cricket There will be no injury. It was a ligament tear. It is coming along well. I am slowly gaining confidence,” he said.
“Like I said, one match is a different thing. Different ball game… I’ll try to give my 100 per cent. I’ll try to go slowly, slowly. Let’s see how my leg feels And then we’ll see.”
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