‘Iska bhi selection hogya hai?’ – Fans react as Kedar Jadhav makes RCB comeback as David Willey replacement in IPL 2023

After an absence of one season, Kedar Jadhav is back in the IPL and will play for his former team, Royal Challengers Bangalore, for the balance of their current season. David Willey has been replaced in the RCB squad by Jadhav, a batting all-rounder. In 93 IPL games played thus far, Jadhav, who made his IPL debut in 2010, has amassed 1196 runs. The right-handed hitter, who earlier played 17 games for RCB, was signed on for INR 1 Crore.

The English all-rounder Willey participated in four games for RCB this year and claimed three wickets. Before joining Chennai Super Kings, Jadhav, 38, played for RCB in 2016 and 2017. Later, he would play for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2021 before not being purchased in subsequent auctions last year.

‘A cricketer’s aim should be to play for India and not the IPL’ – Kedar Jadhav

“Last year, too, I did not play in the IPL. I have played for 10-12 years, and I am satisfied with it. It’s not the end of the world. A cricketer’s aim should be to play for India and not the IPL. IPL is just a platform where you can fast forward your selection process,” Jadhav made this claim in a January interview with Sportstar.

Jadhav, however, remained involved with IPL 2023 in a professional role with JioCinema, which has the rights to telecast the T20 competition online. Jadhav really went nearly a year without playing any cricket before making his Ranji Trophy debut for Maharashtra in 2022–23.

The veteran produced a magnificent performance, scoring 555 runs in only six innings, including a double-century, to put to rest questions about his condition and match fitness. Jadhav finished the Ranji Trophy season as Maharashtra’s top run-getter with an average of 9.250, two centuries, and as many half-centuries.

The middle-order batter’s T20 record shows he has appeared in 155 games and amassed 2484 runs at a strike rate of 128.37. He has 14 half-centuries, with his best score being 84 not out. In the IPL 2023, RCB has won four games and lost as many; they play Lucknow Super Giants on Monday, May 1.

Here’s how fans reacted:

https://twitter.com/Asim_my_icon/status/1652997455733215235

https://twitter.com/Plant_Warrior/status/1652998463284727808

Willey ko hua kya haiii???

— Afsana || RCB (@Afsana0212) May 1, 2023

Riyan parag 2.0

— RCBian (@santratopi) May 1, 2023

https://twitter.com/Thrishank7781/status/1652997155257470977

Bhai ye willey achanak injured kese ho gaya

— VED DAVE (@Ved_editz_17) May 1, 2023

Don't ask me how many times I have checked that this is a parody account or not

— Sanjay (@Sanjay_18_) May 1, 2023

https://twitter.com/kohlifpp/status/1652997238740905986