Maharashtra batter Kedar Jadhav made a triumphant return to First Class cricket after a three-year absence with a double century against Assam in the Ranji Trophy on Thursday.
Jadhav last played for India in an ODI in early 2020, but has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket and has a strong record in limited-overs cricket. His ability to score quickly and consistently in the middle order makes him a valuable asset in the shorter formats, and his all-round skills – he is also a useful off-spinner – make him a valuable utility player.
Jadhav’s double century has also put him in contention for a spot in the Indian side, and his performance in the Ranji Trophy may attract the interest of franchises looking for a reliable middle-order batter.
Kedar Jadhav began his innings for Maharashtra at 95 for two as they chased Assam’s 274-run first-innings total. After a fast start on Day 2, he raced to 144 by the end of the day and continued his strong performance on Day 3. Before getting retired hurt, he scored 183 off 187 balls. In spite of this, he returned to the crease after the fall of the fourth wicket and got out for a run-a-ball 283 at the end.
This was Jadhav’s first First Class century since late 2018 and his first score of over 200 since his record-breaking 2013-14 Ranji Trophy season, during which he scored a total of 1223 runs in 17 innings and was the leading run-scorer. Jadhav’s highest First Class score of 327 came in the 2012-13 season against Uttar Pradesh.
Jadhav’s double century has not only cemented his place as one of the leading batters in domestic cricket but has also given him a chance to make a comeback to the national team and the IPL. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to seize these opportunities, but for now, he will be looking to build on this impressive performance and continue to score runs for Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy 2022-23.
