Batting number makes a huge difference in shaping the career: Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav had a brief, but impactful run in international cricket, especially in the ODI format. In 73 ODIs, Jadhav had an impressive average of 42.09 and a strike rate in excess of 101. Mostly batting at No. 6, the experienced campaigner managed to score a couple of hundreds. Jadhav also rolled his arm over, bowling off-spin with an incredibly low, slinging action, and it helped him bamboozle some of the best batters going around.

However, the diminutive cricketer played his last international game against New Zealand in February 2020. Since then, Jadhav has occasionally played first-class cricket and the Indian Premier League in 2021 and 2023. In fact, Jadhav went unsold in the auction for IPL 2023, but Royal Challengers Bangalore roped him in as a replacement at the fag end of the 10-team tournament.

In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Jadhav, currently captaining Kolhapur Tuskers side in the Maharashtra Premier League, opened up about his experience playing in the league and his love for batting up the order.

“It is always a wonderful feeling to be able to play this sport at your home venue, which most of the colleagues with whom I have previously played for in Ranji Trophy or a club game in Pune. It is good to be able to be part of a tournament where you enjoy and do what you really like.

“In IPL, I don’t get to bat up the order, I have always been sent lower down the order. This is my chance where I can showcase my pure batting ability when I get to bat at the top of the order. Batting number makes a huge difference in shaping the career.”

Kedar Jadhav reveals future plans

The 38-year-old confirmed that he would be playing in the upcoming domestic season after he finishes his stint in the MPL 2023.

“Currently I’m focussing only on Maharashtra Premier League and then the First-Class season. After that I will see what the future holds for me.”

Jadhav played a blistering knock of 85 runs off 52 balls while opening the batting against Solapur Royals on Tuesday in the MPL.