Cricket

Former Indian cricket star Ajay Jadeja has been declared the next Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, a princely state in Gujarat. The announcement was made by the current Maharaja Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, Shatrusalyasinhji Digvijaysinhji Jadeja, in an official statement.Jadeja, who represented India in 15 Tests and 196 One-Day Internationals between 1992 and 2000, comes from a family with a rich cricketing heritage. His relatives, K Ranjitsinhji and KS Duleepsinhji, are the namesakes of the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy, respectively.The announcement follows a recent visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw, Poland. Modi praised the Maharaja's philanthropy and generosity, and announced the launch of the Jam Saheb Nawanagar Youth Action Program, which will bring 20 young Poles to India each year.In addition to his cricket career, Jadeja has also acted in films and participated in the dance reality show "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa." He has also worked as a cricket commentator and expert, and was the mentor of the Afghanistan cricket team in the 2023 ODI World Cup.Jadeja's appointment as Jam Saheb is a testament to his family's legacy and his own contributions to Indian cricket. It is also a symbol of the deep cultural and historical ties between India and Poland.

MS Dhoni's Future with CSK: Jadeja Believes Icon Unlikely to Seek Top RetentionFormer India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja has expressed his belief that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon MS Dhoni has no desire to be retained as the top pick ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction.The IPL governing council recently announced new player retention rules, allowing teams to retain up to six players, including one uncapped player. This has raised speculation about Dhoni's future with CSK, given his status as an uncapped player.However, Jadeja believes that CSK should have no hesitation in retaining Dhoni, citing his immense contributions to the franchise. "MS Dhoni for sure. There's no doubt about that, especially because he's now an uncapped player. He's done a lot for the team and has no desire to be treated as the No. 1 player on the squad. His value is unquestioned," Jadeja said on Jio Cinema.Jadeja also suggested that CSK should prioritize retaining captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. "Ruturaj Gaikwad is the captain, and he's had a good year, so you'll hope to retain him as well. Ravindra Jadeja can't be left out either, so these three, I think, are perfect for them," he added.Former India batter Aakash Chopra echoed Jadeja's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of retaining Gaikwad and Jadeja. "I don't think they'll (CSK) retain five players. They might go for 3-4. I see two players worth 18 crore in Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja. If you want to keep them, you have to match that price," Chopra said.With the IPL mega auction approaching, CSK faces a crucial decision regarding Dhoni's future. While the franchise has remained tight-lipped, Jadeja's comments suggest that Dhoni may be willing to take a backseat and allow younger players to lead the team.

Former Indian batsman Ajay Jadeja believes that Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team, will instill an aggressive and proactive approach in the team during the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. Jadeja expects Gambhir to keep the opposition on their toes throughout the series, which begins on September 19 in Chennai."His approach is aggressive. There will never be a dull moment with him around. He will always try something. He will do what he believes," Jadeja said about Gambhir's coaching style. "He will not sit back and let things flow. He will be out there, trying things."Jadeja, who played 196 ODIs for India, believes that Gambhir will not hesitate to make bold decisions, such as appointing Suryakumar Yadav as captain. "I am looking forward to the excitement we are going to see this year," he added.Despite Bangladesh's recent Test series victory against Pakistan, Jadeja remains confident in India's abilities. "India is a far superior team," he said. "Any team that has just won will always think they can win. But there is a difference between the Pakistan team at the moment and the India cricket team."Jadeja also commented on India's upcoming Test tour of Australia in November. "November is far off, but we have done well in Australia in the past. Why should we not think that we will do it again?" he said.

Afghanistan-Pakistan Rivalry: Intensity Surpasses India-Pakistan MatchesFormer India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja, who served as Afghanistan's mentor during the 2023 ODI World Cup, has revealed that the intensity between Afghanistan and Pakistan during matches is significantly higher than that of India and Pakistan.Jadeja recalled Afghanistan's historic eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the World Cup, describing the winning team's behavior as "bin piye sharaabi" (intoxicated without alcohol). Afghanistan chased down a target of 283 runs in 49 overs, securing their first-ever ODI win against Pakistan."That day, I witnessed players getting high without consuming alcohol," Jadeja said on Caught Behind.Jadeja's appointment as Afghanistan's mentor coincided with the team's historic victory. Ibrahim Zadran was named Player of the Match for his 87-run knock off 113 balls."When friends asked me how I felt, I told them to multiply the intensity of an India-Pakistan match by 10. Everyone is surprised when they hear this," Jadeja added.Former Pakistan player Rashid Latif echoed Jadeja's sentiments, recalling a similar experience when he coached Afghanistan at the 2023 Asian Games. "After Afghanistan's victory over Pakistan, I also saw players getting high without alcohol," Latif said.In the Asian Games semi-finals, Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by four wickets, chasing down a target of 116 runs with 13 balls to spare.In the ongoing T20 World Cup, Afghanistan is placed in Group C alongside West Indies, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. Pakistan, meanwhile, is in Group A with India, Ireland, Canada, and the United States.

Ajay Jadeja's selfless mentorship played a pivotal role in Afghanistan's remarkable performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup. The former Indian star declined all financial compensation from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), prioritizing the team's success over personal gain."We repeatedly offered compensation, but Jadeja refused, stating that our success was his reward," said ACB CEO Naseeb Khan.Jadeja's guidance proved invaluable as Afghanistan stunned former champions England and Pakistan, along with a formidable Bangladesh side. Their journey ended at the hands of Glenn Maxwell's double century.Jadeja's illustrious career included 196 ODIs for India, amassing 5,359 runs with six centuries and 30 half-centuries. He also played 15 Tests, scoring 576 runs.Afghanistan's head coach, Jonathan Trott, hailed Jadeja's contribution, crediting him for transforming the team from "minnows" to a respected force.Jadeja's selfless act underscores his unwavering commitment to the sport and his belief in the potential of Afghanistan's cricketers. His mentorship has left an enduring legacy, inspiring the team to strive for greater heights.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have shown signs of improvement in their bowling department, but they still have a long way to go before they can be considered playoff contenders, according to former India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja.RCB's bowlers played a crucial role in their four-wicket win over Gujarat Titans on Saturday, restricting the opposition to a paltry 148. However, the team's batting lineup once again faltered, losing six wickets in quick succession after a solid start by Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli."The chinks in the armor are visible, what happened at the end," Jadeja said. "But the chance is there. They're off the ventilator but they're still in the ICU."Jadeja praised the bowlers for their performance, saying that it was the "real work" that set up the win. He believes that the bowling department has started to click for RCB, which is crucial for their chances of success in the business end of the season.However, Jadeja cautioned that qualifying for the playoffs remains a "very tough ask" for RCB. He said that the team needs to develop a mentality where they can rely on someone to bail them out of difficult situations.Despite the team's struggles, Jadeja was impressed with RCB's aggressive approach with the bat in the small chase. He said that the team's decision to start the game with two sixes in the first over showed a different mindset."What Faf did, he was operating at a different pace," Jadeja said. "Later, there was some excitement in the match but at no point did it seem like this was (GT win) going to be successful."

India's T20 World Cup Strategy: Jadeja Advocates Kohli as Opener, Rohit at Number ThreeFormer Indian all-rounder Ajay Jadeja has proposed a tactical shift for Team India in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas. Jadeja believes that captain Rohit Sharma should move down to the number three position, allowing Virat Kohli to open the innings.Jadeja argues that Kohli's consistency and ability to anchor the innings make him the ideal candidate for the opening slot. "If you have Virat in your side, you know consistency is the one thing you will get, so, might as well use him," he said. "He's best at the top and the powerplay allows him to settle in."By moving Rohit down to number three, Jadeja believes he will have more time to assess the game and make informed decisions as captain. "He gets a little cushion and gets to understand the game, he has so much going on, in his mind as a captain," Jadeja explained.Jadeja also defended the inclusion of Hardik Pandya in the squad, despite his recent struggles in the IPL. "He's a special player, a rare commodity you find in our country where somebody bowls seam-up and can make it to the side with his batting," Jadeja said.However, Jadeja acknowledged that Pandya's selection was not based on current form. "The selection has not been on form, there's no doubt about it," he said. "It depends on how you want to play. It's one of the things I look at this team and think they don't have many options."Jadeja emphasized that the team's strategy will ultimately depend on Rohit's vision. "It will all depend on what Rohit thinks," he said.