8 things you didn't know about Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket haul helped India seal the first Test match in Mohali todayRavindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja has recently returned to the Indian test team. He earned his call-back after almost 18 months on the back of scintillating performances in the Ranji Trophy. He was one of the highest wicket-takers this ongoing season before he left for national duty.His performance against South Africa has been commendable with the ball, his accuracy makes him deadly on turning pitches. His five-wicket haul in the second innings helped India seal the first Test match in Mohali today.However, this 26-year old has been one of the most popular faces on Indian media for not just his cricket. The social media can’t stop trolling him, the critics can’t stop writing him off and India can’t seem to get enough of this talented all-rounder. So, how much do we know about ‘Sir’ Ravindra Jadeja?Here is a look at eight things that you may not have known about the Saurashtra lad:

#1 \"There were times when I had to manage the entire day with just Rs 10 in my pocket.\"

Jadeja came from a very humble background

In 2012, Ravindra Jadeja became Indian Premier League’s (IPL) costliest player to be bought at the auction after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) offered him US $2 million. However, it did not begin that way. When the all-rounder started playing cricket, had to make do with very little money, as little as just Rs 10.

"There were times when I had to manage the entire day with just Rs 10 in my pocket. When playing matches away from home, where you even had to buy water, it used to get tough," Jadeja had said in an interview to Indian Express.

His father worked as a security guard and his mother worked as a nurse. They found it very hard to make ends meet. It was not easy for Jadeja to rise through the ranks, but his parents managed to support him in his dreams.

#2 Mother was his inspiration

Jadeja was only 17 years old when his mother passed away

Jadeja’s mother, Lata Jadeja was his sole inspiration to play cricket. His father wanted him to study at an army school near Jamnagar and become an officer but he always wanted to pursue cricket. It was his mother who persuaded him regarding his son’s dreams. Though a busy nurse in the government hospital in Jamnagar, she ensured that Jadeja had no cause for complaint on the cricket front.

However, she expired when Jadeja was only 17 years old and that was a huge blow for him. She was very keen that her son played for India and her passing away strengthened the youngster’s resolve to play his best cricket.

#3 His love for horses and swordplay

Jadeja loves riding on his horses

This 26-year old is very passionate about horses, which is believed to be a favourite pastime for most Rajput men. He owns five horses, including three steeds at his ginormous farm house in Pasaya village, near Jamnagar.

He loves riding, which he learnt on his own. He looks after his race horses whenever he gets time from his busy schedule and is very involved in their upkeep.

He is also said to be very adept at swordplay, which again is in keeping with Rajput tradition. Nobody taught him how to brandish a sword but his family claims that he is a natural at it. Upon reaching his fifty at Lord's in 2014 , he brandished his bat furiously like a sword, paying tribute to his roots.

#4 Jaddu was a promising student

Jadeja during his IPL stint with Rajasthan Royals under Shane Warne

His sister Naina Jadeja revealed in an interview that Jadeja was interested in academics, even though cricket took up most of his school days.

“Though cricket was taking so much of his time, Ravindra was a promising student. He was intelligent, blessed with good understanding and a sharp memory. I often feel his shyness – yes, he is very, very, shy belies his scholarship and maturity. He couldn't complete his graduation for want of time, not interest,” she was quoted as saying by Rediff.com.

His sister further added that though he is an introvert, sometimes he is a livewire with his close friends. Shane Warne must have observed several things about him and only then called him 'Rockstar'.

#5 His Ranji records

He became the first Indian batsman to score three triple tons in first-class cricket

Ravindra Jadeja is in elite company because of his astounding Ranji Trophy record of scoring three triple centuries for Saurashtra. He became the first Indian batsman to do so in first-class cricket way back in 2012. Only seven batsmen in the world cricket have achieved the feat before him.

He was batting with Saurashta veteran Shitanshu Kotak when he reached the milestone. Kotak was all praises for his batting partner because he felt that never did the young Jadeja show any carelessness or irresponsibility while batting. His knock steadied the match for Saurashtra because they were stranded at 90 for 4.

The Jamnagar star is also the holder of the ninth highest individual score in the Ranji Trophy, when he scored 331 not out.

#6 He was selected for India A side even before playing Ranji Trophy

Jadeja made it through to the India A side even before he had made his First-Class debut

In 2005, Jadeja was selected for his first Under-19 World Cup tournament in Sri Lanka and he performed quite well there. Particularly, against Australia under-19s, he took four wickets. In the final against Pakistan, Jadeja’s spell of three for 16 played a huge part in restricting the arch-rivals to 125.

When he came back to India, this performance enabled him to break into the senior team. He was called up for the Deodhar Trophy along with his under-19 teammates Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara. In fact, Rohit and Jadeja made it through to the India A side for the Eurasia Cricket Series in Abu Dhabi even before they had made their First-Class debuts.

#7 Michael Clarke was his bunny

Michael Clarke constantly fell victim to Jadeja’s left-arm spin

During Australia’s tour to India in 2013, Jadeja and Clarke were enganged in ‘bunny syndrome.’ In Clarke’s five innings in India on that tour, he had been dismissed by the left-arm spinner four times. His scores in those dismissals have ranged from 130 to 91, 16 to a first-ball duck.

When Jadeja was asked if he was trying to make Australia's best batsman his bunny, he laughed and said to ESPNcricinfo, "Abhi toh waise hi ho raha hai (That is what's happening at the moment)."

Considering Clarke's propensity to notch up big scores and his reputation as one of the world’s best player of spin, it was no mean feat for Jadeja.

#8 Jadeja\'s reaction on being called \'Sir\'

The flamboyant all-rounder got his ‘Sir’ monicker while playing for CSK

India captain MS Dhoni’s post on Twitter went viral when he added the prefix of ‘Sir’ to Jadeja’s name. It took the entire world by storm as all CSK players began tweeting with the same monicker and fans all across social media trolled him unabashedly.

However, such pranks never seemed to bother the hard-hitting all-rounder. Calling it a joke, 'Sir' Ravindra Jadeja said he had no problem with the prefix before his name as long as his CSK and India teammates are enjoying the all-rounder's 'knighthood’.

"I think it is a joke and we are enjoying. Nothing serious in that matter. I don't think I am a great man. I just want to be what I am right now. I am not seriously thinking about the title 'Sir' and all that. It's okay as everybody is enjoying in the team and it's fine," he said to PTI.

He may be young but he can sure appreciate some good-natured humour!