Ravindra Jadeja credited domestic cricket for helping him maintain his ODI rhythm after a long break. The ongoing series against England marks his first ODI appearances since the 2023 World Cup final. In two matches, he has bowled 19 overs, conceding only two boundaries while taking six wickets. His performances have been crucial in India’s series win, secured even before the final match, which will also be his 200th ODI.
“I’m feeling very good,” Jadeja said. “Playing ODIs after almost two years, you have to adapt quickly. The domestic match against Delhi helped me a lot. I bowled nearly 30 overs in that game, which kept my rhythm intact. I’ve been trying to bowl Test match lines and lengths in ODIs as well. Since my break from cricket wasn’t very long, I was able to maintain my continuity.”
Jadeja retired from T20Is after India’s World Cup triumph in June 2024, leaving him with little cricket between the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year and this ODI series. During that period, he played two Ranji Trophy matches, bowling in just one of them but taking 12 wickets in 30 overs.
India’s domestic circuit, especially the Ranji Trophy, has been in focus after the BCCI instructed top players to participate unless injured or undergoing workload management. Virat Kohli played for Delhi after 12 years, while Rohit Sharma returned for Mumbai after a decade. Though some criticized this directive as excessive, Jadeja’s success reinforces the board’s stance that playing competitive matches is the best way to stay sharp.
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