I Could Play So Many ODIs Because Of MS Dhoni: Kedar Jadhav

In an apparent dig at Virat Kohli, Kedar Jadhav has credited former skipper MS Dhoni for playing ‘so many ODIs’ for the national team. The middle-order batsman has fallen down the pecking order under Virat Kohli’s captaincy and was recently dropped from the ODI team for the home series against South Africa. The three-match ODI series eventually was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He is unlikely to get a recall any time soon because of the presence of the likes of KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya in the middle-order. With age also not on his side, the 35-year old seems to have played his last ODI for the Indian team.

Kedar Jadhav has perhaps realised it and this is why he recalled the time when MS Dhoni was the captain of the side. He also said that while he idolised Sachin Tendulkar while growing up, MS Dhoni is his favourite cricketer. Kedar Jadhav said that he could have played only 8 to 10 ODIs but Dhoni helped him play way more than that.

“Growing up Sachin Tendulkar was my idol like every aspiring cricketer. I regret that I could not play with him. But when it comes to favourite cricketer, it has to be Dhoni,” Kedar said during Chennai Super Kings’ Instagram Live chat.

“When I met Mahi bhai I thought he is India’s captain and he would be very strict. After meeting him, I don’t see any other image when it comes to favourite cricketer.

“I could have played 8-10 ODIs but Mahi bhai supported me and he had a calming effect on me. When I see him I get confidence and if you get that from your captain, it helps a lot,” he added.

Kedar Jadhav represented India in 73 ODIs after making his debut in 2014. In those 73 games, he made 1389 runs with two hundreds and six fifties for the national side.

Also Read: BCCI And Other Members Ask ICC To Call Off Test Championship, ODI League

Also Read: Shaun Pollock Weighs In On Sachin Tendulkar vs Brian Lara Debate