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Dheeraj Jadhav : India's future Run-Machine |
- Venkat
 In the past several months, Indian cricket has
witnessed the arrival and departure of several
opening batsmen, the latest being Akaash
Chopra. With the problem of opening batsmen intensifying, the selectors have now handed over
the baton of responsibility to two
young and consistent performers in the Domestic
scene - one of them is the 25-year old Maharashtra opener, Dheeraj Jadhav. The young
left hander has indeed performed better than
anyone else in the domestic circuit last year
and yes, the National call is a great tribute to
consistently prolific run scoring and hard work
and a never give up spirit shown by this
talented opener.
Dheeraj Jadhav, based in Pune, made his debut
for Maharashtra against arch-rivals and current
Ranji Champions Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium
on 15th November 1999, and in his very first
innings caught the eye of the pundits, as his
score of 55 had some sparks of class and
composure. After this impressive debut innings,
Jadhav's domestic career has moved in only one
direction - upwards. A technically sound batsman
with a pre-dominantly backfoot oriented outlook,
Jadhav has been one of the main reason for the
sudden rise of Maharashtra in the Domestic
cricket scene. His mates from the Maharashtra
team used to call him "run-sookha" during the
time, when run-getting was not as easy as one
expected it to be. But he's turned it around by
becoming a "run-bhookha" in the past season or
two, by becoming one of India's opening
sensations. The 2003-04 season will be one of
the main reasons Dheeraj is where he is today.
Having played 9 matches and scored 1245 runs at
a Bradmanesque average of 103.75, the selectors
had no option but to not ignore his
performances. The one aspect that distinguishes
Jadhav from other openers India has had, one can
say apart from Wasim Jaffer, that once he gets a
start he makes it count. His recent scores of
260*, 251, 207 and 200* in the domestic
competition justify the fact that, once this man
is on a roll, its beware time for the
opposition. A fine century he made for India A
against the India Seniors in a warm up match
before the Australian series should have done
his chances of participation a world of good and
indeed the selectors have chosen to show faith
in his abilities as an opener. In reality, the
youngster could well be the man India needs at
the end opposite to Virender Sehwag while
opening the batting. His recent scores of 175
and 85 for his employers Air India, whom he
represents in Mumbai's Times Shield Competition,
meant that his purple patch continued with the
bat and it was just a matter of time before he
got there. According to Sandeep Patil, his coach
when he plays for India A, Dheeraj Jadhav is one
of those few blokes who never misses out on an
opportunity, when it knocks his doors. Here is a
big opportunity for Dheeraj to be India's new
opener and only time and his performances at the
biggest stage will say if he can transfer his
great domestic form into a greater one.
If Akash Chopra was a good short leg fielder,
this man is one of the better ones around. He
has got great reflexes and will make him an
effective fielder wherever he is stationed.
Besides his classic and orthodox batting,
Dheeraj is an effective part time right arm off
break bowler. But its too early to call him an
all rounder as his batting is the only reason
why he's made the team. I remember Akash Chopra
always quoting Justin Langer in his interviews
as "Mate. If you have a good day, make it a
great day" and one feels in the long run if
India needs to diagnose the problems of opening
batsmen, Dheeraj can be expected to turn good
days into great ones.
A man who has thoroughly deserved his place in
the batting line up, Dheeraj now gets a chance
to join his statemate Sachin Tendulkar
(though Sachin plays for Mumbai, he's a
Maharashtrian) and one gets the feeling that the
selectors have finally hit the nail on the head
by selecting him when he is in red hot touch. A
long road ahead, Dheeraj will have to perform
over and over again to stay in constant
contention, and records prove that he's capable
of that.
We at Cricketfundas.com would like to wish the
Run Machine from Maharashtra, a happy journey to
International Cricket and hopefully
this man becomes the right answer to the
selector's questions !
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