Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja quits as Delhi Ranji team coach

Jadeja criticised DDCA for the poor administration

Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja has quit from the head coach position of the Delhi team, reports The Hindu. He said his "opinions or inputs don't matter" to the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

Currently, Delhi Ranji team is playing Rajasthan in Jaipur with their assistant coach Amit Bhandari travelling with them. Jadeja clarified on the fact that Bhandari is not the reason why he is not with the team.

"I have read in the newspapers that the reason I have not travelled with the team is because Amit Bhandari has been appointed assistant coach. I would like to clarify that this is not the reason. It is sad to see that once again, players are being used to settle personal scores in the DDCA," Jadeja said.

He continued: "Now, it seems the DDCA is back to working on its own and does not need the services of anyone appointed by the government nominees or otherwise. No one within the organisation seems to have a problem with this way of functioning.

"Obviously, my opinion or inputs don't matter to DDCA. I wish Delhi cricket the best."

The Delhi government nominees appointed Jadeja as the coach after DDCA came out with three different probable lists for the Ranji season. Jadeja explained the reason behind accepting the assignment and said:

"I am extremely thankful to all the people instrumental in my getting involved with Delhi cricket. As I understood the developments, the government nominees had got involved after the fiasco of the three different lists of probable being proposed and the different factions claiming to be in control.

"My purpose, I thought, was to see that cricket could carry on and the players would not be disadvantaged. That was the only reason for I being involved. I don't belong to any faction in the DDCA."

Prior to this, Jadeja had criticised Delhi cricket’s administration for his miscommunication when Indian seamer Ishant Sharma’s name was not included in the Ranji probable list. Ishant was initially left out of the 15-memeber squad for Delhi’s Ranji season with selectors claiming that the lanky fast bowler had failed to respond to their calls.

The furore that followed the announcement forced the selectors to make a U-turn and name Ishant in the squad.