Veteran Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja revealed that he never anticipated playing Test cricket, believing white-ball cricket was his strength. “When I started, I didn’t realize that I would play so many Test matches for India. I always thought white-ball cricket was my forte and aimed to establish myself there,” he said. “Initially, I felt Test cricket was a bit too long and only very dedicated players could excel in it. This was my initial mindset.” Jadeja acknowledged two important individuals named Mahendra—his childhood coach Mahendra Singh Chauhan, and former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni—as significant influences in his cricketing journey. In a podcast hosted by his former teammate Ravichandran Ashwin, Jadeja revealed that both men played defining roles at different stages of his career. “I started playing in Jamnagar at a ground called ‘Cricket Bungalow’ when I was about 8-9 years old. My coach, who still trains at the same ground, is from Bihar and his name is Mahendra Singh Chauhan. I have told Mahi bhai too that my cricket journey revolves around two Mahendras – Mahendra Singh Chauhan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni,” Jadeja said. Jadeja credited Chauhan, a former police officer, for his development from an early age. “He was a police officer and believed that a sportsman should be at peak fitness. He thought batting and bowling could be managed, but one had to run a lot. My fitness level and fielding skills can be attributed to running 15-20 km around Jamnagar,” he added. When asked to describe Dhoni in one word, Jadeja responded, “There is no single word to describe his greatness. He is above everyone.” Jadeja and Ashwin were central to many of Dhoni’s strategies on the field, both for India and for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. The conversation also discussed former India captain Virat Kohli, with Jadeja highlighting Kohli’s aggressive mindset as a key aspect in Test cricket. “It was his positive approach – especially in Tests – that set him apart. Virat always wanted the team to take 20 wickets in a Test match. He never gave up, whether it was a three-hour session or 45 overs left, he always aimed to take all 10 wickets of the opposition,” Jadeja said. Kohli recently retired from the longest format, concluding his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. (with agency inputs)