ICC World Cup 2019 | Kedar Jadhav has proved me wrong, says Chandrakant Pandit

Kedar Jadhav has been in and out of the Indian cricket team over the last couple of years but has somehow managed to make the ODI squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019. The Pune-born cricketer has been one of the late bloomers with the national side having made his debut in 2014 against Sri Lanka.

Former Maharashtra coach, Chandrakant Pandit, who also coached Jadhav during his formative years revealed that the latter has proved him wrong in the last four years. Pandit claimed that the Pune all-rounder always had the talent to make it big, but was too casual during the initial years of his career.

"Kedar was a casual youngster who has proved me wrong. Back when he was in (Maharashtra's) Under-22 side, Kedar always showed promise but he did not have the right attitude. It was too casual and I used to get annoyed," Pandit told TOI.

Jadhav grabbed the headlines during the 2013-14 Ranji Trophy season when he ended up scoring 1223 runs, which came after a triple hundred against Uttar Pradesh in the previous season. Pandit added that Jadhav’s utilisation as a go-to bowler by MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli also came as a surprise for him.

"I met him last year on a flight from Bangalore and we met like friends this time. I told him that he proved me wrong, going on to become a great professional," recalled Pandit. "He has improved so much. His attitude has completely changed but the street-smartness that he brings is amazing.

"I never thought that he would bowl 5-6 overs in one-dayers. I always saw Kedar as someone who could be used as a bowler in 4-day or 5-day matches. Now, he is more than a part-time bowler for India," Pandit added.