Gujarat Lions’ Jaydev Shah denies dad Niranjan Shah’s hand in IPL selection

Gujarat Lions player Jaydev Shah, son of former BCCI and Saurashtra Cricket Association secretary, Niranjan Shah, has managed an IPL contract each season, but has never featured in a game

It could be an interesting Indian Premier League (IPL) trivia to identify the domestic cricketer to figure in all 10 seasons of the T20 tournament despite not playing a match. (IPL 2017 FULL SCHEDULE)

Jaydev Shah (L) poses with Gujarat Lions teammates Munaf Patel (C) and Praveen Kumar (R) during training in the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. (Gujarat Lions/Twitter)

While IPL franchisees have not thought twice before dropping some big names from their team, Saurashtra captain Jaydev Shah remains a curious case for surviving the axe.

Jaydev has been part of four IPL teams since the tournament’s inception in 2008, but has ended up being on the bench in all seasons.

Jaydev, son of former BCCI boss

Jaydev, better known as former BCCI and Saurashtra Cricket Association secretary Niranjan Shah’s son than for his cricketing credentials, was first picked by Rajasthan Royals in 2008. In the next season, Mumbai Indians bought Jaydev in the transfer window.

In 2011, Deccan Chargers took him before he again went back to Mumbai Indians. In the 2016 IPL auction, Jaydev was bought by Gujarat Lions for his base price of Rs 20 lakh. The franchise retained him for IPL 2017.

Since making his Twenty20 debut in 2007, Jaydev, a left-handed batsman, has scored 551 runs at an average of 16.20 with a highest score of 49 and taken seven wickets bowling off-spin.

IPL contracts not due to father

Jaydev, however, maintains his father has had no role to play in his getting IPL team contracts despite not playing a single match.

“When I haven’t got a chance to prove on the ground, how will I justify it (selection in IPL). When my father gave me the opportunity to lead the Saurashtra Ranji Trophy team, I had to prove myself. So, when I get a chance (in the IPL), I will prove it,” Jaydev told Hindustan Times on Monday.

During the last Ranji Trophy season, Jaydev became the first player to lead a side for 100 matches. Jaydev, who has been Saurashtra’s captain since 2004, led his team to their only title till date – Vijay Hazare Trophy (domestic one-day tournament) in 2007/08. He led Saurashtra to two Ranji Trophy finals in 2012/13 and 2015/16.

Jaydev accepts father’s help

Jaydev said he has missed out on IPL chances due to the composition of the playing XI. “There have been situations when I couldn’t fit into the team combination. These things are not in my hands,” said Jaydev, who turns 34 on May 4.

Does it hurt when people pass comments about his father’s influence in his career? “I know a lot of people say that, but it is their choice. You cannot stop people from talking. The only way to prove myself is through performance. Only then will the perception change.

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“I shouldn’t be hurt. He (father) has helped me in my cricket, but he has also told me to prove myself. I wouldn’t have been Saurashtra captain if I wasn’t good enough. In India, it is a natural progression that the son follows his father’s footsteps. I have seen my father do so much for cricket since my childhood, so my aim is to go a step further and do more for the game.

“If my conscience is clear why should I focus on such talk? Sport does not care whose son you are or whether you are a billionaire. At the wicket, it is your bat which speaks for yourself. I would have been out of the game if I wasn’t good enough for that level,” Jaydev said.

In first-class cricket, Jaydev has aggregated 4,862 runs in 113 matches, averaging 28.76 with nine centuries. He has taken 12 wickets.