Ahead of the IND vs ENG 3rd Test, all questions were regarding Ravindra Jadeja. Is he fit? Will he play? Should India risk him? But the all-rounder has shrugged off all injury woes. He is fit as a fiddle and ready for Bazball challenge again in the Rajkot Test. But Jadeja says there is no guarantee that he won’t suffer another injury soon. Jadeja missed out on the 2nd Test with a hamstring strain.
Ravindra Jadeja is India’s most valuable player with batting, bowling and superb fielding. And all of those together in all three formats lead to frequent injuries.
“It is frustrating but the cricket has increased these days and that is at the back of the mind always. I can’t hide anywhere in the field, I am always on the hotspot in any format and that maybe the reason (for injuries), and the ball comes to me often,” Ravindra Jadeja said at the pre-match press conference ahead of IND vs ENG 3rd Test.
“There is an expectation from the team that I take a good catch or field well and that’s good. I can work on my body more smartly and do it carefully and hope there will be no problem. But there is no guarantee,” he added.
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Tryst with injuries
It’s not the first time that Ravindra Jadeja has suffered an injury. He missed the T20 World Cup 2022 with a knee injury. He had to go under the knife as he missed seven months of cricket.
With T20 World Cup 2024 coming up, the BCCI is mindful of his workload. And as Jadeja missed out on the IND vs ENG 2nd Test, there were concerns whether he could be fit by the 3rd Test. However, here he is at his home ground, ready for 70th Test.
“I would like to give my 100 per cent and save my body and keep away from diving when not required. That’s it. I don’t think about that too much because it (returning from injury) has happened before.
“As the match progresses, the body will get used to with the flow and then it gets out of your mind that there was an injury. I will get into the rhythm in one or two days,” Ravindra Jadeja said.
