Kedhar Jadhav opens up about his sudden IPL call-up

Kedar Jadhav doesn’t have the greatest of records in the Indian Premier League, but he surely has the credibility that is enough to provide him with opportunity after opportunity in the league. After finding no takers in the IPL 2023, Jadhav decided to enter the world of commentary - as has been the case with many former cricketers - but one phone call changed the course for him.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) announced Jadhav as the replacement for England all-rounder David Willey for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Revealing the details, Jadhav stated that he was completely taken by surprise.

"Absolutely surprised, but a pleasant one. I was doing commentary and Sanjay Bhai called me asking what I was doing. I told him I was commentating. He inquired whether I was still practicing and I replied in the affirmative - twice a week," the Maharashtra batter said in a team statement.

"Bangar then asked me about my fitness, to which I said I was regular at the gym and even using it in my hotel. In short, I told him I was in good shape. He asked for time and said he'll call me back. It was at that moment I realized that he would call me and tell me to play for RCB."

Jadhav had a banger of a season on the first-class circuit and even scored a 283 for Maharashtra. His passion for the sport and the hunger to score big knocks didn't diminish a tad bit.

"I took a break for a year, but then I realized that I was missing my passion, and when I returned to first-class cricket, I found it very easy. To be honest, it was because of the experience I have.

"It was the same hunger I had in the early '20s, the hunger to score big runs and that's when I felt I can now come back and play again at all the levels and I was prepared for it, I've always performed well," Jadhav added.