At the team hotel in Dubai, where the Indian team was based during their participation in the Asian Cup T20 tournament, Jadeja was invited to undergo a water-based training activity in the installation of “backwater” of the premises.
“He had to balance himself on some kind of ski board as part of an adventure activity – which was not part of the training manual at all. It was absolutely unnecessary. severely twisted his knee, which led to surgery,” sources familiar with the developments told TOI.
Jadeja flew to Mumbai and underwent the operation under the guidance of BCCI consultant and senior orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala.
(Photo credit: Ravindra Jadeja Instagram)
The question that arises at the moment is: was the ski-boarding activity compulsory? Before a tournament as important as the World Cup, was it necessary for one of Team India’s MVPs to go through an adventure activity?
TOI understands that some BCCI officials are already angry about how the injury happened. Although no official questions have yet been raised, those in the know say the nature of the injury is so serious and yet bizarre that a thorough explanation will become necessary at some point.
(Photo credit: Ravindra Jadeja Instagram)
“What’s surprising here is that head coach Rahul Dravid didn’t ‘lose his temper’ given the way the injury happened. Ideally, one would have expected for Dravid to question this whole process. All in all, the bottom line is that India will go to Australia without Jadeja,” the sources add.
In the absence of Jadeja, Team India – already absent from the Asian Cup – will find it even more difficult to find the right replacement. The all-rounder had two overs in the Asian Cup opener against Pakistan and was the most economical of the lot while scoring 35 runs on 29 balls while batting at number 4 – ahead of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya – as part of an experience.
(Reuters photo)
Although he did not beat Hong Kong in the next match, Jadeja was once against the most economical of bowlers, giving up only 15 runs in four overs for one wicket.
It was after this match that Jadeja suffered the weird injury and missed India’s second match against Pakistan, the one which India lost by five wickets.