Jadeja likely to play next Ranji Trophy game for Saurashtra

Ravindra Jadeja is likely to feature in Saurashtra's next Ranji Trophy fixture. The former champions, who will clash with Madhya Pradesh at home, have included the veteran all-rounder in their squad for the second-round match, which begins on October 25 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.

Currently not picked in the India ODI squad touring Australia, Jadeja is understood to have made himself available for Saurashtra for the first class game as he keeps himself match ready for next month's Test series against South Africa. "He is expected to play in the next match," a Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) official told Cricbuzz.

The 36-year-old Jadeja, currently the top-ranked Test all-rounder, last played in a Ranji Trophy game against Assam last season. He had played two matches in that season, emerging as Player of the Match against Delhi (38 runs, five for 66 and seven for 38) with a typically all-round showing. In 47 Ranji appearances for Saurashtra overall, he has scored 3,456 runs at an average of 57.60 and taken 208 wickets at 21.25.

In their first game of the season, Saurashtra had the better of Karnataka having taken a slender first-innings lead with Dharmendra Jadeja emerging as the key performer. The left-arm spinner had a 10-wicket haul, including 7 for 124 in the first innings.

Saurashtra are led by Jaydev Unadkat, a former India pacer. The four-time former champions had reached quarterfinals last season before losing to Gujarat.

Saurashtra squad: Harvik Desai (wk), Tarang Gohel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuvrajsinh Dodiya, Sammar Gajjar, Arpit Vasavada, Chirag Jani, Prerak Mankad, Jaydev Unadkat (c), Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Chetan Sakariya, Ansh Gosai, Jay Gohil, Parth Bhut, Kevin Jivrajani, Hetvik Kotak and Ankur Panwar.