Since his last appearance for India, Ravindra Jadeja has been absent for more than four months. The all-rounder has been sidelined since India’s Asia Cup 2022 match against Hong Kong due to a knee injury for which he needed surgery. Jadeja has been receiving treatment at the National Cricket Academy following a successful procedure. He has been posting videos of his development, indicating everything is going well.
Despite this, neither the Indian Cricket Board nor its selectors have spoken publicly about his comeback. The selectors have occasionally even mentioned Jasprit Bumrah’s comeback, but they have never commented on Jadeja.
Ravichandran Ashwin is to be credited for the solution to the mystery. The veteran spinner may have just given away Jadeja’s return date, and if his obscene hint is any indication, it won’t be too long. When Ashwin returns to India duty from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the beginning of the following month, he is optimistic that Jadeja will play in his long-awaited comeback against Australia.
“I put in a lot of work whenever a home series happens. I’m expecting (Ravindra) Jadeja to come through (be fit in time) but I like expanding more angles. I got some things in my head. I’ve been watching Australia play in Australia. I’d like to be working on some different angles, something new,” Ashwin told The New Indian Express.
I want to keep that benchmark going: Ravichandran Ashwin
“I have started my training. I have been dreaming (about the series) and I’ve been doing some yoga. I’ve been religiously doing yoga over the last year or so. I think it’s just helped me feel much better. As for the skills, I’ve definitely put in a lot of work on my batting. My batting has really been upscale over the last 18 months or so,” he added.
“Even at this stage of my career, I want to keep that benchmark going. This year I was supposed to play the Ranji Trophy, but what happened was I played the games in Bangladesh and when I came back, I had to look after my niggles a little bit. I have just taken a small break and I’m putting myself through a four-week programme where I’m strengthening my entire body.”
