NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 5: It is most unfortunate that Ajay Jadeja, the ever-smiling and one of the most lovable cricketers among the younger generation, was among the cricketers involved in match-fixing. It came as a rude shock to millions of his followers even as the Jamnagar-born player, who learnt his cricket lessons at the National Stadium in the Capital, was trying to cement a permanent place for himself in the National team.Having watched him play for Sardar Patel Vidyalaya and the National Stadium team with great enthusiasm during his younger days, one cannot still believe that the `charming' lad could be one of the `fixers.'``We cricketers have a following only as long as we don the white flannels. Once we quit the game, nobody will recognise us,'' he used to say as he was called to inaugurate cricket academies or shops, present awards at tournaments, etc.One never thought that a cricketer who seemed to pay so much respect to the game and his coaches would one day be banned from the very game for his `involvement' with bookies saw qualities of a future India captain in him when he led the team in three matches in Sharjah during the 1999 tri-nation tournament that also involved Pakistan and England. It was prior to the last World Cup in England.Jadeja led the team in place of an injured Azharuddin. With his personal example, he guided the team to victories over Pakistan and England in the league matches. His decision to come on to bowl himself in the game against England proved a master-stroke. He took three wickets in quick time to send the opponents crashing to defeat.His field placings, quick bowling changes and his ability to surprise the opposition were all hallmarks of a captain in the making. With Azhar's form declining, one thought the dashing Jadeja would be the ideal replacement to lead the national side, in one-dayers. Batting lower down, his belligerent batting displays won matches for the country on a few occasions.Having grown under the influence of Kapil Dev, who took him over to Haryana after DDCA refused to recognise his talent, Jadeja always played the game with a positive approach. He always played to win, whether the hot weather tournaments at the small Modern School ground in the Capital, Ranji matches for his state or international games for the country.He decided to throw in his weight with his mentor Kapil who was waging a battle over the management of the Haryana Cricket Association and opted for Jammu and Kashmir. And in the only match for his new state, Jadeja led from the front, scored a century and guided J-K to score a victory over Haryana, his old state. He thus had scored a point.But all that has come to naught with the five-year ban on the cricketer. Five years is a big gap in a cricketer's career. It would be difficult, nay impossible, for Jadeja to come back into the national team. But more than anything, it will take more than a life time for him to wipe the black mark before his name.
