Kedar Mahadev Jadhav, born on 26 March 1985, is a former Indian cricketer. He played for the Indian national cricket team and represented Maharashtra in domestic cricket. Kedar Jadhav was a right-handed batter who occasionally bowled off-spin and kept wickets.
He made his ODI debut on 16 November 2014 against Sri Lanka and his T20I debut on 17 July 2015 against Zimbabwe. Jadhav played a key role in India’s 2018 Asia Cup victory, scoring 23 crucial runs in the final to help India secure the trophy for the seventh time.
Early Life
Kedar Jadhav was born in Pune into a middle-class family with roots in Jadhavwadi, a village in Solapur district. He was the youngest of four siblings. His father, Mahadev Jadhav, worked as a clerk for the Maharashtra State Electricity Board until his retirement in 2003.
Jadhav grew up in Pune’s Kothrud area and began playing cricket at the PYC Hindu Gymkhana. He initially played tennis-ball cricket for Rainbow Cricket Club before making it to Maharashtra’s under-19 team in 2004.
Cricket Career
Jadhav was first named in the Indian squad for a tour to Bangladesh in June 2014 but didn’t get a chance to play. He eventually made his international debut in November 2014, scoring 20 runs against Sri Lanka.
In July 2015, Jadhav played all three ODIs against Zimbabwe. He scored his first ODI century in the third match, remaining unbeaten on 105 runs off 87 balls. He also made his T20I debut during the same tour.
One of his most memorable performances came in January 2017 when he scored 120 off 76 balls against England. He shared a 200-run partnership with Virat Kohli to secure a win in Pune. In the same series, he scored 90 runs in another match, earning the Player of the Series award for his 232 runs.
Jadhav was part of India’s squad for the Champions Trophy in 2017 and the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Retirement
After a long and impactful career, Jadhav announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on 3 June 2024.
Kedar Jadhav’s journey from a young boy playing cricket in Pune to representing India on the world stage is a story of determination and hard work.
