Ajay Jadeja is a right-handed batsman of Delhi Cricket team who has also played for team India in many international matches. He was born into a royal family on February 1, 1971 in Jamnagar, Gujarat. His mother belongs to Kerala. His family has a number of cricket players like KS Ranjitsinhji, K S Duleepsinhji and Ajaysinhji Daulatsinhji.
The full name of this versatile player is Ajaysinhji Daulatsinhji Jadeja. He has also played for Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan Cricket Association President`s XI. He is a right-arm medium pacer.
Ajay Jadeja is an incorrigible charmer off the field. He debuted in the "First-class" matches in 1988/89. Ajay Jadeja has played in total 109 "First-class" matches. His total score in these matches is 8046 runs with an average of 55.10. The highest score of Jadeja in these matches is 264 runs, which include 20 centuries, and 40 half-centuries. While in bowling, he has taken 54 wickets by giving 2140 runs from 4703 balls. His latest "First-class" match was against Bengal at Kolkata which was held from January 10 to 13, 2007.
Ajay Jadeja had his "List A" match debut in 1988/89. He has played in total 291 "List A" matches and has made a total score of 8304 runs. Ajay`s maximum score in any "List A" match is 119 runs and his average is 37.91. This scorecard in "List A" matches includes 11 centuries and 48 half-centuries. Whereas in bowling, Ajay Jadeja has picked up total 49 wickets by losing 2257 runs from 2680 balls. Ajay played his latest "List A" match against Madhya Pradesh at Jaipur on February 10, 2006.
Ajay Jadeja entered in the international cricket with an infectious sparkle. He had his "Test match" debut against South Africa at Durban in November 1992. Ajay has played in overall 15 "Test matches" and has made his total score 576 runs. His highest score in any of these matches is 96 runs and his average is 26.18. Jadeja`s "Test match" scorecard consists of 4 half-centuries, 62 fours and 3 sixes. His striking rate in these matches is 39.37. Ajay Jadeja played his last "Test match" against South Africa at Mumbai from February 24 to 26, 2006.
Ajay Jadeja entered in "One Day International" matches on February 28, 1992, which was against Sri Lanka and was held at Mackay. He has played in overall 196 ODI matches with an average of 37.47. Ajay`s total score in these matches is 5359 runs and his striking rate is 69.80. His highest score in any ODI match is 119 runs. Jadeja`s scorecard includes 6 centuries, 30 half-centuries, 366 fours and 85 sixes. Whereas in bowling, he has picked up total 20 wickets by losing 1094 runs from 1248 balls. Ajay Jadeja has played his latest ODI match against Pakistan at Dhaka on June 3, 2000.
Jadeja was a protégé of Kapil Dev whose natural atheletism, energetic running between the wickets and audacious hitting made him popular in the cricket world. But his cricket career was halted in December 2000 by a five-year ban on the charges of match fixing. But a Division bench permitted him to play domestic cricket. So, coming back to Delhi he became the captain of Delhi Cricket team. Since September 2005, he also started coaching Rajasthan team. Jadeja and Mohammed Azharuddin made the record of the highest One Day partnership record in the 4th and 5th wicket, which was set against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka respectively. Ajay Jadeja is at present the captain of Rajasthan Cricket team and also a cricket commentator. He got the chance of acting as well in the movie, "Khel" along with Sunil Shetty in 2003.
