Kedar Jadhav’s ever-increasing list of admirers has another name and it is none other than South Africa superstar and his Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammate AB de Villiers.
With two of their batting lynchpins- AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli- missing the second game in succession owing to injuries, RCB needed someone to step up to guide the team to a good total. The big names like Chris Gayle and Shane Watson had failed to deliver in the big loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the season-opener and they failed to make an impact in the second game too against Delhi Daredevils. The last year’s runners-up were reeling at 41 for 2 in the sixth over when another big name- Kedar Jadhav- walked into the middle.
The right-handed batsman had already proved his potential as a hard-hitting batsman during the ODI series against England earlier this year and not surprisingly all eyes were firmly set upon him. But the task of guiding RCB was never going to be a mean one. With the Delhi Daredevils bowlers displaying discipline of highest quality, the home side huffed and puffed their way to 61 for 3 in 10 overs. Jadhav had played just 12 balls by then but he was looking quite settled and the Maharashtra skipper decided to take on the bowlers in an attempt to take his team to a good total.
The carnage began in the 13th over bowled by leg-spinner Amit Mishra. Jadhav hit his India teammate for a couple of fours and as many sixes to collect 24 runs off that over. In the next over, he hit a four and six before taking a double to complete his fifty in only 26 deliveries. The 32-year old hit two more fours and a maximum before Zaheer Khan sent him to the pavilion for a well made 69 off just 37 deliveries. The explosive knock gave RCB innings the much-needed impetus as they finished on 157 for 8 in the allotted 20 overs. The score proved enough in the end as Delhi Daredevils fell short by 15 runs, handing RCB their first win of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Jadhav has been garnering praise from all over for his brilliant display with the willow and AB de Villiers too joined the bandwagon.
“Few years ago a guy called @RobWalter17 told me that this @JadhavKedar guy can play.. Not that I didn’t believe him, but oh my, this is good,” an awestruck de Villiers tweeted.
Few years ago a guy called @RobWalter17 told me that this @JadhavKedar guy can play.. Not that I didn't believe him, but oh my, this is good
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) April 8, 2017