Ravindra Jadeja is expected to play in the first Test against Australia and if he does, it will be his first appearance for India since their Asia Cup T20 match against Hong Kong in August last year. Jadeja was ruled out of the tournament and the subsequent T20 World Cup with his knee injury requiring a surgery. He went under the knife in September and then embarked on a five-month long rehabilitation journey.
Jadeja said that while the coaches and physios at the National Cricket Academy did the most to keep his spirits up, there were days when he wondered if he would ever get back to full fitness. “Feel very happy to wear the Indian jersey after almost five months,” said Jadeja in a video on bcci.tv. “I have been blessed to have got a chance again. The journey has been up and down. It gets a bit frustrating if you are not able to play any cricket for five months. I was waiting eagerly to get fully fit again and play for India,” he said.
Jadeja said that had he decided to go for the surgery before the T20 World Cup as his doctor had advised him that he was not going to make it to the tournament anyhow. "I was struggling with my knee and needed that surgery. But I had to take a decision whether I am going to do it before or after the World Cup. The doctor also advised me to do it before the tournament, chances were very less to play the World Cup anyhow even if I didn't go with the surgery. That is why I steeled my mind and went for the surgery but the period after that was tough.
{{/usCountry}}Jadeja said that had he decided to go for the surgery before the T20 World Cup as his doctor had advised him that he was not going to make it to the tournament anyhow. "I was struggling with my knee and needed that surgery. But I had to take a decision whether I am going to do it before or after the World Cup. The doctor also advised me to do it before the tournament, chances were very less to play the World Cup anyhow even if I didn't go with the surgery. That is why I steeled my mind and went for the surgery but the period after that was tough.
{{/usCountry}}“Rehab, training and stuff, these are things that you have to do regularly and you do start wondering if you will ever be fully fit. I was watching the World Cup on television and was thinking, 'Arey yaar, I wish I was there'. These kinds of thoughts come to your mind and they motivates you to go through rehab and training, get back to full fitness quickly,” he said.
India felt Jadeja's absence in the T20 World Cup, where they were knocked out in the semi-finals after a stunning 10-wicket loss to eventual champions England. Since then, however, they have had a good run in bilateral cricket and are now looking to seal a spot for themselves in the final of the World Test Championship.