RCB bring in Jadhav as injury replacement for Willey

Royal Challengers Bangalore have brought in Kedar Jadhav as an injury replacement for David Willey for the remainder of IPL 2023. Jadhav was acquired for INR 1 crore (USD 122,300 approx.).

Willey was struck on the toe while batting in RCB's home defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednedsay and has since flown back to the UK. RCB said on their social media channels that his toe was fractured, and that Willey had also suffered an adductor strain.

Jadhav, now 38, was an in-demand IPL cricketer till some years back, but didn't get a chance to play in the 2022 season and went unsold at the latest auction too. His many teams at the IPL, since his debut in 2010, include RCB, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Jadhav turned out for RCB in 17 matches in 2016 and 2017 after being traded from Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils).

"I took a break for a year but I realised I was missing my passion. When I came back to play first-class cricket, I found it very easy," Jadhav said of a successful 2022-23 domestic season, where he scored 555 runs in six innings at an average of 92.50 for Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy. "All the experience helped. The hunger was there which was in the early 20s. The hunger to score big runs was there and I felt I can come back and play at all levels and I've prepared for it, I've always performed well."

Most recently, Jadhav was part of the Marathi-language commentary team for the IPL.

Overall, Jadhav has played 93 IPL games, scoring 1196 runs at a strike rate of 123.17. A part-time offspinner with a low, slingy action, Jadhav has 27 ODI wickets (from his 73 appearances in the format for India) and four in T20s, but has never bowled in the IPL. He is also an occasional wicketkeeper, and did perform keeping duties for RCB during his two years with the team.

RCB, who play their ninth match on Monday evening away against Lucknow Super Giants, are currently placed sixth on the ten-team IPL table with four wins and four losses.

RCB have suffered a number of injuries this year, with Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar and Reece Topley all previously ruled out of IPL 2023. Josh Hazlewood was not available for the first eight games of their season, but is expected to return to the side against LSG on Monday.