India allrounder Ravindra Jadeja has sparked rumors of retirement from Test cricket through his recent Instagram story. While his story was without any caption and he didn’t mention anything, it was enough to create doubts in the minds of cricket followers.
Jadeja was recently a part of India’s squad in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The allrounder didn’t have a great time as he was overlooked for the first two Tests in Perth and Adelaide.
He came into the Playing XI for the third Test in Brisbane and immediately made an impact with a fine 77 which helped India draw the game. However, his numbers diminished again in the last two Tests of the series.
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Ravindra Jadeja sparks rumors of retirement
Ravindra Jadeja posted a story of his Test jersey on Instagram. The jersey was from the fifth Test between Australia and India in Sydney in which both the teams wore jerseys in which their names were written in pink color.
Is Ravindra Jadeja going to take retirement? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/PbJsCEgUK6
— Satish Mishra 🇮🇳 (@SATISHMISH78) January 10, 2025
Jadeja didn’t have a great impact in the match as he scored 26 and 13 across the two innings of the match. He found it difficult on a pitch that was offering plenty to the fast bowlers as the ball kept seaming around.
Jadeja didn’t have much to do with the ball as the bulk of the work was done by the fast bowlers due to seamer-friendly conditions in Sydney. He finished with 0-12 in 3 overs in the first innings and didn’t bowl in the second innings.
The Sydney Test also known as the Pink Test to raise awareness about breast cancer. The idea was proposed by former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who lost his wife Jane McGrath to the same disease in 2008.
While the jerseys of the participating teams are designed with pink letters, the stumps and stands in the match are also in pink. The Pink Test has been organized at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) since 2009.
Ravindra Jadeja in BGT 2024-25
Ravindra Jadeja didn’t have a great series according to his standards. He had a good Test match in Brisbane but wasn’t able to continue his performances in the last two Tests of the series played in Melbourne and Sydney.
He scored 135 runs across in the last three Tests of the series at an average of 27 with one fifty. His only half-century came at a crucial point when his team was under pressure to avoid the follow-on. However, he formed a brilliant partnership with the young allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy to bail India out of trouble.
Jadeja didn’t have a great time with the ball as well. The seamer-friendly conditions in Australia didn’t work in his favor either. He picked up 4 wickets in three Tests at an average of 54.50.
Pressure on Ravindra Jadeja after Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement
With his long-time spin bowling partner Ravichandran Ashwin having announced his retirement during the Test series against Australia, Jadeja is also under pressure to take a final call on his retirement.
Recently, a report from TOI even claimed that Jadeja might be dropped for the Champions Trophy as head coach Gautam Gambhir is insisting on building a strong base for the ODI World Cup 2023. It is possible that the selectors might make a final decision on Jadeja’s future in the coming days.