'I Had This Fear': Ravindra Jadeja Explains Which Of His Nightmares Came True After Series Defeat To Kiwis

Ace India allrounder Ravindra Jadeja has admitted that he was always afraid of losing a Test series at home during his career and with that having come true last week, he probably wouldn't be surprised by anything else after this. He debuted in the final game of the four-match Test series against England in 2012, which was India's last series defeat at home and the debutant didn't have much to think about back then. But 12 years later, Jadeja is one of the senior-most players in the team and this series defeat to New Zealand has expectedly hurt him, much like it has other players and fans. On debut in that game in Nagpur, Jadeja had dismissed Jonathan Trott once and Kevin Pietersen twice. But with the match ending in a draw, England clinched the series 2-1.

Ravindra Jadeja surpassed Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan to enter the top five of India's highest wicket-takers in Test cricket after his five-for in the #INDvNZ Mumbai Test 👏#WTC25 pic.twitter.com/ANZIIQjN3u

— ICC (@ICC) November 1, 2024

"Firstly, I had this fear, I had thought that I wouldn't lose a series in India as long as I was playing. But that too has happened," Jadeja told the media at the end of the opening day's play in Mumbai. "We won 18 series (at home), I thought as long as I am playing Tests in India we won't lose a series but that has happened, so I am not surprised with anything (that is happening)," Jadeja added. Since that series defeat to England, India remained almost invincible at home and lost just five Tests. The allrounder said that while it was a huge achievement, the series defeat to the Kiwis has stood out because of the standard that India have set for themselves. "When we win, we lift the trophy together. Now that we have lost the series, all 15 in the team will take the blame collectively," Jadeja said. India will now look to save themselves from a whitewash at the hands of the Kiwis. The Proteas had handed the Indians a 2-0 series defeat at home back in 2000, under the leadership of Sachin Tendulkar.