India’s veteran Ravindra Jadeja has stated that his first priority will be his fitness as he is all set to make a comeback to action in the Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu. Jadeja will lead Saurashtra and he will be looking to prove his mettle.
The talisman all-rounder had last played for India in the Asia Cup and he was ruled out after a knee injury. Jadeja had to go under the knife and he will be looking to hit the ground running before the crucial Test series against Australia.
The experienced player has been picked for the first two Test matches against Australia but his selection will be subject to his fitness.
Speaking to reporters before the match, Ravindra Jadeja said, “I am feeling good to be back on the field. Very excited. Hopefully, it will come good as a team and as an individual also.
“See, my first priority is to get on the field and be fit… 100 percent fit. Once I am 100 percent fit, I will work more on my skills, whether it is batting or bowling. Now, my first priority is fitness.”
There is no doubt that Jadeja is going to hold the key for India in the series against Australia but the team will want him to play at the top of his game. It is never easy to hit the blocks from the get-go after an injury layoff and Jadeja will have his work cut out. In Jadeja’s absence, Axar Patel has done an amazing job for the team in all three formats.
Jadeja went on add that he wanted to play in a match scenario before the Australia series and thus decided to play for Saurashtra.
“I was at the NCA for 20 days. I was doing batting and bowling. Match scenario is different. I wanted one game before the Australia series, that’s why I am here.
“Nobody wants to get injured at your peak time. [But] It is part of the game. You have to keep that in mind and be prepared for it. There is no guarantee that one won’t get injured in cricket.”
The first Test match between India and Australia will be played in Nagpur from February 9.
India’s Test squad for the first two Tests against Australia: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (vc), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.
