‘Fit’ Kedar Jadhav shocked on not being picked for remaining Windies ODIs

He played a crucial role in India’s winning the Asia Cup for a record seventh time in the United Arab Emirates last month despite his injury in the final. Fit-again Kedar Jadhav was shocked to see his name not featuring in the squad announced for the final three ODIs against the Windies. The 33-year-old batting all-rounder played just one game after the close final against Bangladesh and it was in Deodhar Trophy on Thursday.

Jadhav would have hoped that his last-minute drafting in the Deodhar Trophy game for India ‘A’ against India ‘C’ was a chance to prove that he was fit match fit. But despite scoring 41 runs off just 25 deliveries and bowling five overs, he was disappointed to see that his name did not feature in the squad picked for the remaining three ODIs against the Caribbeans.

Jadhav to miss next game at hometown Pune

It was all the more heart-breaking for the man since the third ODI on October 27 is due to be played in Pune, his hometown. His disappointment is quite understandable. Jadhav who had strained his hamstring in the final of the Asia Cup last month, he cleared his fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and then played the Deodhar Trophy match in Delhi. But wasn’t still brought back in the squad for the final three matches.

“The rehab was good, I cleared all the fitness tests, I was cleared match fit, which is why I was playing here,” Jadhav was quoted as saying. He played quite a busy innings in Delhi, doing a lot of running beside bowling and fielding, too. One reason behind him getting overlooked could be that the decision on the squad had been taken before Jadhav took the field.

After the match, when Jadhav was asked the reporters why he wasn’t included in the side, he said: “I didn’t know [that I have not been selected]. Obviously, I have to see (why).”

The player also said that there was no reason to doubt self even if there are repeated injuries, as long as the NCA approves one. “Only if you have followed all the rehab, all the fitness rules, all the exercises do they clear you at NCA. As long as they clear you, you shouldn’t be having any doubt when playing on the field,” he said.

The failure to make the squad for the remaining ODIs against the Windies means Jadhav will have to wait till 2019 for his next 50-overs game. India have six T20Is left this year (three against the Windies and three in Australia next month). Jadhav has played 46 ODIs and nine T20Is since his international debut in 2014 and has scored around 1,000 runs with two hundreds, both scored in the 50-overs format. He also has 22 international wickets, all taken in the ODIs.

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