Veteran India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja didn't have a great IPL 2025 campaign with both the bat and the ball. The 36-year-old managed to score only 301 runs and take 10 wickets in 14 matches as CSK finished at the bottom of the IPL points table for the first time ever, accumulating just eight points during the season.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by his former India and CSK teammate Ravichandran Ashwin, Jadeja stated that he never thought that he would end up playing so many Tests as he always believed that white-ball cricket was his 'forte'.
"When I started, I didn't realise that I will play this many games for India in Test cricket. I always believed white ball was my forte and wanted to establish myself there. I used to feel that Test cricket is a little long as well. Only very sincere players can play for it. This was my mindset initially," Jadeja stated.
Jadeja credited his childhood coach and MS Dhoni for his cricketing journey
In the interview, Jadeja also revealed the two people that he credits the most for his long cricketing journey. Firstly, he named his childhood coach Mahendra Singh Chauhan, who trained the all-rounder when he first started playing in Jamnagar. Jadeja revealed the second person to be his long-time India and CSK teammate MS Dhoni.
"I started playing in Jamnagar, at a ground called 'Cricket Bungalow', at the age of 8-9. My coach, who is still training at the same ground, is also from Bihar and his name is Mahendra Singh Chauhan. I have told this to Mahi bhai as well that my cricket journey is between two Mahendra's – Mahendra Singh Chauhan & Mahendra Singh Dhoni," Jadeja added.
Ashwin also asked Jadeja to describe Dhoni in one-word, to which the 36-year-old responded, “There is no one word to describe his greatness. He is on top of everyone." The trio of Dhoni, Jadeja and Ashwin were key figures in both the Indian and CSK teams for several years.
The spin duo flourished under the captaincy of Dhoni especially in the Test and ODI format and also contributed well in the batting departement on numerous occasions. The trio are legends on not only the international stage, but also have sensational records in the IPL.