IND vs AUS: The pain of being out of the team is different… Ravindra Jadeja, who is returning after five months, narrated the condition of his heart

Nagpur: Left-arm spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to make a comeback ahead of the opening Test against Australia starting February 9 in Nagpur. Jadeja is very happy to get a chance to play for the national team again. Jadeja was sidelined in September 2022 after undergoing surgery on his right knee. Jadeja said in a video posted by the BCCI on its social media handles, ‘Very excited and feeling really great that after more than five months, I have worn the Indian jersey and I am very fortunate to have I am getting a chance to play for India again. I was eagerly waiting when I would be fit and able to play for India.

The rescheduled fifth Test against England in Birmingham in July 2022 marked the last time Jadeja played a Test match. He then explained his decision to undergo surgery on his right knee. ‘Somewhere along the way I struggled with the knee and I had to have surgery. But I had to decide whether I want to do it before (T20) World Cup or after.

He said, ‘The doctor also advised me to do this before the World Cup, because if I do this then there is very little chance of playing the World Cup. I then made up my mind to undergo surgery, but after that rehab and training there was very difficult.

Jadeja missed the Men’s T20 World Cup, the tour of New Zealand and Bangladesh as well as the home series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand after undergoing surgery on his right knee. For the tour of Bangladesh, he was named in the squad, but it was subject to fitness and he was subsequently dropped. Jadeja gave a glimpse of the thoughts during the rehab phase and how the physiotherapist as well as the National Cricket Academy (NCA) coaches helped him get back to full fitness.

Regarding his fitness, Jadeja said, ‘Sometimes, thoughts come in your mind like’ when will I be fit or when will I not be fit. When you watch matches on TV, like the (T20) World Cup, I started feeling ‘I wish I could play there’. So, all those thoughts come to mind but those little things also motivate you that you have to rehab well, go through your training and strengthen the knee to come back.

He said, ‘The physio and trainers at NCA did a lot of work on my knee. He gave me so much time and even though it was a holiday at NCA on Sunday, he would specially come and treat me. He has done a lot of work on me. Like I used to stay in Bangalore for two, three weeks, then I used to go back home to refresh my mind.

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