New Delhi: One of India’s most important all-rounders in recent times, Ravindra Jadeja has revealed that the two most influential figures in his cricketing journey are not only a first name, but also hailstorm from the same state-Bihar.In a clear conversation on the podcast ‘Kuti Stories with Ash’ hosted by team partner Ravichandran Ashwin, Jadeja opened up how his childhood coach and his mythical mentor MS Dhoni are both central for their careers.Jadeja said, “My cricketing journey is between two Mahendra – Mahendra Singh Chauhan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.” “I started playing in Jamnagar at a ground called ‘Cricket Bungalow’ at the age of 8-9. My coach, who is still training in the same ground, is also from Bihar and his name is Mahendra Singh Chauhan. I have also told this Mahi Bhai. ,Jadeja remembered how a former police officer Chauhan laid the foundation of his athleticism and on-field agility.“He used to be a police officer, his mentality was that a player should be at the peak of his fitness. He believed that batting and bowling could be managed, but one would have to run a lot. My fitness level and fielding skills could be attributed to running 15-20 km around Jamnagar.”
When Ashwin asked him to describe Dhoni in a single word, Jadeja said, “There is no word to describe his greatness. He is at the top of all.”Both Jadeja and Ashwin played an important role under Dhoni – not only for Team India, but also as key bowlers for Chennai Super Kings during the team’s IPL Dominance.The discussion also touched India’s most successful test captain Virat Kohli, who recently stepped away from the longest format. Jadeja appreciated Kohli’s unwavering intensity and winning mentality.
“This was his positive attitude-especially the special thing about-Virat in tests is to always want the team to choose 20 wickets in a Test match, so he never gives up. It would have been a three-hour session or 45 overs, yet he would like to oppose 10 wickets.”Kohli moved away from Test cricket with an outstanding record – 9,230 runs in 123 matches in 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifty decades.
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