An effervescent ajayjadejaexpressindia.chat

Amazing, one would think, with the kind of pressure the Indian team is under to bring home the World Cup. But then, to Jadeja, it’s a game’. "No matter what you do, you remember that. Some you win, some not. Coming apart when we lose just doesn’t work, simply because there’s no formula for cricket. If there were, it would be bottled and sold," he grins.

Cricketing questions abound on the wires, which somewhat disappoint Jadeja. "How come no one wants to know about the women in my life?" he asks. Soon enough, he’s asked about hiscasanova’ image. "I wish," he says. "If there was time. But I’m out playing so much, that apart from sleeping, I can’t really think of doing anything. I’d love to meet all those beautiful women, but then…" he trails off wistfully.

Most people ask him when he’s going to be captain, and he is genuinely confounded. "How am I supposed to know?" he asked. "No, I never said nasty things about Kambli. He’s a pal," he throws at another query. "Azhar is fine," he said, when asked for an opinion. And that is that.

Through the hour, Jadeja battles with questions with the ease and finesse of a connoisseur. His fans are the object of his love and respect, though some have gone overboard to catch his attention. "It’s very much a spur-of-the moment thing. They soon realise soon this kind of adulation doesn’t last," he says.

Upon the need for a Ajay Jadeja fan club that got instituted last week, he says, "I’ve always been interactive. This will just do the same things in a more organised fashion."

Anotheroft-asked query was who he thought was India’s toughest opponent. "Every opponent is worthy. When you’re on the field, it doesn’t matter which country you’re playing. They’re there, they’re good. You’d better know," he says.

The reason there’s invariably so much tension when India is playing Pakistan, he says, is due to the fact that both countries are passionately involved with the game. "I don’t think that the Australians or even the Britishers really care all that much. But these two countries almost live by the game," he says.

All too soon, it’s time to sign off. "Well!" he says. "I hope I wasn’t too boring."