Jadeja boost for Saurashtra

Ravindra Jadeja will be featuring in Saurashtra's Ranji Trophy side when it takes on Jammu and Kashmir in Rajkot on Saturday.

After missing Saurashtra's opening Ranji Trophy game, Ravindra Jadeja is all set to play for his domestic side against Jammu and Kashmir.

After missing out on the first game, Ravindra Jadeja will be featuring in Saurashtra's Ranji Trophy side when it takes on Jammu and Kashmir in Rajkot on Saturday.

The India all-rounder, who has been ignored for the national team's ongoing series against Australia, has joined the Saurashtra team training session and is all set to speahead the spin attack. "He (Jadeja) has been training with us for the last couple of days, and it is a good thing for the team to have him around," Saurashtra coach Shitanshu Kotak told  Sportstar .

READ: Manhas stays out of J&K’s Ranji opener

The coach also made it clear that Jadeja's presence in the team will help them strategise better. "This home game against Jammu and Kashmir is crucial. We have got off to a good start and it is important to maintain that momentum. Jadeja comes with vast experience and that will help us do better at home," Kotak said.

After being left out of the national side, there were talks that Jadeja would be playing for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy season opener against Haryana. But a marriage in the family saw him skip the match, where Saurashtra was led by another India international, Cheteshwar Pujara."The preparation is good for the second match. A bit of fine-tuning was required here and there, and we have done it," Kotak said, adding that taking seven points in the game against Haryana has actually boosted the side's morale.

Saurashtra had missed its regular captain Jaydev Shah in the season opener due to his wedding. But with him expected to play the second game, chances are that Pujara might be played as just a batsman. Though there's no decision on that yet."We have a settled side, and the presence of Jadeja and Pujara will help us get the edge in the early stages of the tournament. That's something we are looking forward to," Kotak added.

Despite the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association being caught in imbroglio, the players from the state earned three points over Rajasthan in the first game. And now, with another tough opponent coming its way, a mouth-watering clash could be in the offing.