Kedar Jadhav has been signed as David Willey’s replacement by Royal Challengers Bangalore for the remaining part of the ongoing Indian Premier League, BCCI announced on Monday. The 38-year-old has been signed for INR 1 Crore after the left-arm seamer was ruled out due to a foot injury he suffered in the previous game.
Despite making his debut in 2010, Jadhav hasn’t managed to make a strong impact in the tournament, scoring only 1196 runs at a strike rate of 123.17. He has played 93 IPL games, featuring for Delhi Capitals, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has featured in 17 IPL games for RCB, in 2016 and 2017 – of which the latter proved to be his most successful year in the tournament, scoring 267 runs at a strike rate of 143.54
RCB are currently placed sixth on the points table with 4 wins in 8 games so far, with their next game set to be played against Lucknow Super Giants tonight. While Jadhav comes in as replacement for a bowling all-rounder who has played 4 games for RCB this season, he could have an important role to fill in the inexperienced and misfiring middle order.
While he has never bowled in IPL, he does possess additional part-time skills of bowling offspin – a role he has performed in international cricket – as well as wicketkeeping, a role he has fulfilled previously in IPL.
