A day after maiden national call-up, Kedar Jadhav is denied practice pitches

Kedar Jadhav

How many would have imagined that an Indian cricketer with more than 10 years of experience at the First-class level and in possession of an IPL contract will have to spend on his own for net sessions, and that too after getting selected for the national team?

Maharashtra middle order batsman Kedar Jadhav, who received his maiden national call-up only a day ago, for the upcoming Bangladesh tour, is doing exactly that.

Following the Deccan Gymkhana Club’s refusal to prepare a proper pitch for his practice sessions back in Pune, Jadhav, to get adequate practice ahead of the tour, has decided to shell out Rs 18, 000 per month to get the job done.

"I have represented Deccan Gymkhana Club in Pune for the past 14 years. Yet, they have refused to prepare a pitch so that I can have proper net sessions ahead of Bangladesh tour,” the 29-year-old batsman expressed his disappointment.

The situation is a shame considering the stature cricket enjoys in India. Jadhav, who had a stellar 2014 IPL season with Delhi Daredevils as a finisher, has played 52 First-class matches, averaging above 50.

He had a brilliant Ranji 2013-14, as well, ending up as the leading run-getter with 1223 runs at an astonishing average of 87.35 with six centuries.

“Today, I have got India call-up, played for the 'A' team and IPL starting from this club. But I guess they are not happy with my progress," Jadhav told.

"I am paying a monthly fees of Rs 18,000 to 22-Yards cricket academy where there is a proper pitch. I don't know how may cricketers who get selected for India get this treatment in their own state,” Jadhav added.

When asked about Daredevils playing him lower down the order despite the failure of the top order and him delivering in crunch situations time and again, a dejected Jadhav said: “Actually, the logo on your chest matters! If you have that India logo, you are bound to be taken more seriously.”

“Hopefully, after I play for India, I will also get a chance to bat higher up the order in IPL. I would also like to get a chance to play more deliveries to showcase my abilities.”

On being selected for the national team for the first time in his career, the 29-year-old said: "I was confident that I will be playing for India one day. My immediate goal is to do well and cement my place in the limited overs side. There are two aspects of representing the national side – playing for India and playing long enough for India. I want to play long enough for India,” Jadhav said about his ambitions.

When asked to list the standout knocks in the last couple of years that did the trick for him, he said: "The match-winning century against Mumbai at the Wankhede in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final gave me a lot of confidence. Beating Mumbai in Mumbai in a quarter-final with no big stars was a great achievement for us.”

“Apart from that, I scored a triple century (327 off 317 balls) against UP in Ranji Trophy, a year before that. A half-century for India A against England at Palam ground were some of the knocks that gave me immense satisfaction.”

On the format best suited for him, he said: ”I believe I can play both forms of the game with same confidence. In IPL, if you look at my scores, I have always tried to contribute in limited span of time. I want to use this opportunity to stake a claim for the England ODIs also."