"I always believed white ball was my forte": Team India all-rounder Jadeja

Team India`s premier all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja said that he never thought of playing Test Cricket and kept believing that white-ball cricket is his forte.

“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,” said Jadeja on a podcast hosted by his former teammate Ravichandran Ashwin.

Further, he stated that in the initial phase, he used to feel that Test cricket is played by very senior players. He also credited MS Dhoni and his childhood coach for influencing him in his cricket journey.

“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 Mahendra`s ” Mahendra Singh Chauhan & Mahendra Singh Dhoni,” he added.

Further speaking about his childhood coach, Jadeja said that he used to be a police officer and used to consider that a sportsperson`s fitness should be at its peak.

“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,” said the 36-year-old.

When asked to describe legendary MS Dhoni in one word, Jadeja said, “There is no one word to describe his greatness. He is on top of everyone”.

The veteran of 80 Test matches also spoke about the approach stalwart Virat Kohli had in Tests under his captaincy.

“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. Be it a three-hour session or 45 overs left, he would still want to pick up all 10 wickets of the opposition,” concluded Ravindra Jadeja.

(With PTI Inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day