The Story of Ravindra Jadeja and Mahendras Who Made His Career

The career of Ravindra Jadeja has been nothing but motivational. He has traveled a long way from his modest start in Jamnagar to emerging as one of the best all-rounders in the world. When asked to tell us about MS Dhoni in one word his response left the web abuzz. All he said was that there is no one word to describe the greatness of Dhoni. He thinks Dhoni is above all others and the simple yet powerful testimony won many hearts.

Jadeja began playing cricket at the tender age of eight or nine at a ground named Cricket Bungalow in Jamnagar. It was at this place that he came across one of the most influential people in his life his childhood coach Mahendra Singh Chauhan. Chauhan was not only a coach but also a retired police officer who espoused hard work discipline and fitness. He used to make Jadeja jog 15 to 20 kilometers around Jamnagar to develop his endurance. His fielding and fitness, as Jadeja says, were sculpted by this rigorous early training. Chauhan used to say that skills such as batting and bowling could be worked upon later but fitness was a given.

Interestingly both major mentors in Jadeja's life have the first name Mahendra. His path he claims is moulded between two Mahendras — coach Mahendra Singh Chauhan and ex-India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Jadeja even confided this to Dhoni himself realizing that both these men played enormous roles at various phases of his life. While Chauhan created the foundation of his game Dhoni provided him with the platform to excel at the greatest level.

At the start of his cricketing career Jadeja never thought that he would get to play so many Test matches for India. He felt that his greatest strength was white ball cricket. He believed Test cricket was too lengthy and only demanded from players who were very hardworking and honest. Initially his approach was concentrated only on limited-overs cricket and all he wished for was to establish a name for himself there. But over time his views changed and today he is a vital part of India's Test squad.

On a podcast hosted by Ravichandran Ashwin Jadeja shared more about his career and the people who influenced it. He spoke at length about how MS Dhoni helped him grow as a player and a person. Dhoni’s calm and sharp decision-making on the field left a strong impact on Jadeja. With Ashwin Jadeja was a participant in numerous plans and strategies with Dhoni both for India and for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. Playing with Dhoni provided him with the confidence to play under pressure and make a contribution in high-profile matches.

In the course of the discussion Jadeja also mentioned Virat Kohli and his aggressive approach particularly in Test cricket. He stated Kohli had a never-give-up attitude. What differentiated Kohli was his ambition of picking 20 wickets in a Test. Regardless of overs remaining or how difficult the situation was Kohli would encourage the team to go for the victory. Such a mindset Jadeja thinks is what divides the good from the great.

Kohli recently retired from Test cricket with 9230 runs in 123 matches. He had an average of 46.85 and hit 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His statistics are for everybody to see but as per Jadeja it was the confidence and zeal of Kohli which had the greatest impact on the team's performance.

Retrogressing Jadeja's life is a story of lessons and hard work and two Mahendras who instilled him with their unique styles. His tale is an example of how even if one begins believing they are only capable in one mode with the proper guidance and attitude, they can be successful in every aspect of the game. His emergence in Test cricket particularly after questioning whether it was suited for him in the first place illustrates how much he has improved both as a cricketer and an individual.

The relationship Jadeja has with Dhoni is evidently extremely close. His reaction when questioned on what to say about Dhoni exemplifies the amount of admiration he holds for the ex-captain. Saying Dhoni is above everyone is not just a compliment it shows deep admiration for someone who has been a guiding light for many players. Jadeja’s growth under Dhoni’s leadership is a story shared by many Indian cricketers who found their path through Dhoni’s calm yet sharp leadership.

Jadeja's tale is not merely cricket it is about change of belief and thanks. He began with a pre-conceived notion of being confined to white ball cricket but now he is match-winner across all forms. The guidance of coach Chauhan made him understand the importance of fitness and discipline and Dhoni guided him to frame his career at the international level. Both these men played individual roles and Jadeja never misses to acknowledge them.

This combination of early sternness by Chauhan and high-level exposure under Dhoni served to mold into one of India's greatest all-rounders. And even while the crowd appreciates his talent on the pitch it is this true-to-life storytelling and recognition of the individuals responsible behind his success that renders Jadeja all the more endearing. From Jamnagar's Cricket Bungalow to the largest stadiums in the world Jadeja's path is a fine example of what passion, hard work, and proper guidance can achieve.