Being an elder sister, Naina Jadeja, who is running the eatery popularly known as the ‘Jaddu’s Food Field’ back home revealed it’s disheartening not to see her brother Ravindra Jadeja representing the country in a top-flight cricket at the home ground.
“It’s still India which is playing out there, But thoda dard toh hota hi hai (you still feel bad),” Naina told Times of India.
Owing to the busy scheduled, Naina reiterated she is not going to set up a food stall at the ground as she did during the tenth edition of the widely-recognised Indian Premier League (IPL) when Jadeja represented Suresh Raina-led Gujarat Lions earlier this year.
“I don’t have time and energy to put up the stall or watch the match this time,” Naina added.
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It’s pertinent to mention that, Naina made it clear by saying there is no reason related to the absence of her younger brother for not setting a foot stall of “Manchurian Food” for the T20 fixture.
Being as the most sought-after all-rounder for Team India, Jadeja is currently featuring in the third-round of the Ranji Trophy fixture for his state-side, Saurashtra against Jharkhand in Rajkot.
After the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has implanted the rotation policy, the slow-bowling all-rounder Jadeja is facing the daunting challenge in a bid to return to the limited-overs set-up for Men in Blue.
However, the 28-year-old Saurashtra-born Jadeja gone wicket-less in both the innings until 35 overs after bowling 19 in first innings and 15 in the second, respectively
However, the left-arm orthodox clean bowed Varun Aaron in his 16th over when this report was filed.
On the other side, Test specialist and Saurashtra skipper smashed a double-hundred to sink the Jharkhand side.
“Jadeja is mentally very strong. He understands that others are being tried too by the selectors. He’s just focused on his game and on the Ranji Trophy,” Saurashtra’s coach Sitanshu Kotak, who also played for the same state.
So far, Jadeja sent down 34 overs, and the Jharkhand side led by Saurabh Tiwary found him easy on a surface which was tipped to be full of runs before the match kick-off on November 1. Moreover, the wily customer Jadeja has a lot of experience on his back to deceive batters at his will owing to his line and length.
The fans have had thronged to the stadium – to see their star cricketer in the form of Jadeja, who bowled four maiden overs, in first innings which further saw him conceding 87 runs.
As he is trying hard to be among the wickets, on the other side, the spectators would be packing up – to head towards the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium which is bound to host the second fixture of the ongoing three-match Twenty20 Internationals between India and New Zealand on Saturday evening.
In the morning overs, the Madhavroa Scindia ground wore a deserted look, as the visitors starting off with the overnight score of 139 for one. At the lunch break, Jharkhand was 271 for four in 60 overs.
Known for responding his critics with the performance on the field, Jadeja struck double hundred last month (October) against Parvez Rasool’s led Jammu and Kashmir which further saw him claiming seven wickets in the game. Interestingly, it would be the second time Jadeja would be away from home.
In 2013, Rajkot hosted which further saw him missing one of the One-day International fixtures against South Africa in the recent past.
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Earlier, Saurashtra enforced the follow-on after they posted 553 for nine in their first innings which subsequently saw Jharkhand was bundled out for 270 in 82.1 overs.