Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja shared an untold story of his India call-up ahead of the upcoming England tour. The Men in Blue will play five T20Is and three ODIs in England starting Wednesday, July 1.
Ravindra Jadeja made his India debut in the fifth ODI of the Sri Lanka tour in 2009. He revealed how he learned of the possibility of his selection a day before the team was officially announced, before the tour. The all-rounder got several calls from unknown numbers, which were from the media, to congratulate him. It was then that he discovered that his name was doing the rounds.
Jadeja narrated the incident and how he could not sleep the entire night, knowing that he could receive his maiden India call-up the next day.
“I was just out with my friend and a day before the team as announced, I got six to seven calls from unknown numbers. I picked the calls and it was all from the media. They were congratulating me. I asked why? Because I had no idea. Then they told me that the team for the Sri Lanka series will be announced and you may be picked. I became nervous and told them that they are joking. But they told me my name was doing the rounds. I could not sleep that night. Then the headlines came that there is a new face in the team for Sri Lanka – Ravindra Jadeja. That was special for me,” he said during a conversation on SGTV.
Jadeja came through the ranks, first making it to the India U19 team, then playing domestic cricket, and finally making it to the senior team. He recalled how he was among the 15 players picked out of 150 kids during the trials for the U19 team before the 2006 U19 World Cup.
“I went to the trial for the India U19 for the first time when I was 17 and a half. There were about 150 kids and I was shocked that how would they pick 15 from so many. I was so nervous and used to think how I would prove myself among so many kids. We played a practice match one-day and I scored a fifty, that is when I thought I could play at this level. The journey started from there,” he stated.
Ravindra Jadeja eventually made it to the 2006 U19 World Cup squad. From there on, there was no looking back for the all-rounder. In the 2008 Ranji Trophy season, he scored 739 runs at an average of 67.18 with two hundreds and three fifties. He also bagged 42 wickets and was the highest wicket-taker for Saurashtra that season.
The stellar performance in that Ranji Trophy season put him in the eyes of the selectors, as he eventually went on to make his international debut in 2009.
“In February 2006 there was the U19 World Cup and I was selected. I thought that it was a special thing and at that time, it was like if you do well in the U19, your chances of being picked for the Indian team are bright. When my Ranji season went well in 2008, I scored some 750 runs and took 40-45 wickets. I used to keep track of all U19 tournaments but I had no idea that the Indian team was also thinking about me,” he expressed.
Meanwhile, fans will have to wait to see Ravindra Jadeja back in action. The senior all-rounder was surprisingly omitted from the squad for the England ODIs.
Ravindra Jadeja recalls his first experience after joining the Indian team
In the same conversation, Ravindra Jadeja also recalled his experience after joining the senior Indian team for the very first time. The all-rounder named several veterans and explained how he felt numb on seeing them at such a young age.
“Sachin, Sehwag, Gambhir, Yuvraj, Habhajan, Dhoni, Raina, Zaheer, Yusuf, Irfan, all were there. I went into the dressing room and was thinking about what was happening to me. If I had played that very day, I would not have been able to lift the bat as well. These were all big players. I had just completed 19 years of age. I did not tell anyone what I was thinking or feeling. I was numb and watching everyone. All of them were very senior to me. Now people already play with each other in the IPL, so it is a bit easier. You will never get a dressing room like that again,” he expressed.
On debut, Ravindra Jadeja impressed with the bat. He scored an unbeaten 60 off 77 balls. He has now represented India in 89 Tests, 210 ODIs, and 74 T20Is ever since.
Edited by Rishab Vm
