Malegaon-based cricketer to lead Goa in opening three Ranji games
THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Dheeraj Jadhav will lead Goa for the first three matches of Ranji Trophy this season as the GCA selection committee announced a 15-man squad on Saturday.
The team was announced in the presence of convenor Vinod Phadke, selection committee chairman Mayur Sawkar and selectors Sharad Pednekar,Chandra Tendulkar, Rajesh Ghodge and Kapil Angle.
Dheeraj will lend experience to the state squad, mainly because of the fact he has played in the Indian domestic circuit for some seasons now. Goa take on Hyderabad in their opener on October1-4, followed by matches against Services (October 8-11), Tripura (October 15-18), Jharkhand (Oct30-Nov2),Saurashtra (Nov7-10),Kerala (Nov15-18) & J&K (Nov 23-26).
The Malegao-born cricketer has played for Assam and has represented Mumbai in the Indian Cricket League and also Maharashtra in domestic cricket.
Although he used to bat in the middle order, he later became a strokeplaying opening batsman which produced immediate results. After good performances for India A, including a century in an India v India A game he was called up into the Test squad for the 4th Test vs Australia at Mumbai in 2004. After 52 First Class games he has achieved an impressive average of 52 with a highest score of 260 not out.
In 2011,Dheeraj signed to play for Pune Warriors India in the 2011 Indian Premier League cricket tournament. He also signed a contract to play cricket in England in 2008, 2009 & 2010 for Horwich RMI Cricket Club in the Bolton Cricket League.
Dheeraj had a successful first season at Horwich RMI. He scored 939 runs in just 15 innings, averaging over 85 runs per innings. He also broke the club record for the most runs scored in a single innings, with his 164 not out against Bradshaw Cricket Club.
DEERAJ FACTFILE
Major teams: Air India, Assam, Indian Board President's XI, Maharashtra, Mumbai Champs, Pune Warriors, Reebok XI
Playing role: Batsman
Batting style:Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm offbreak
FIRST CLASS RECORD
Matches 103
Runs 7386
Top-score 260*
Average 51.65
100s 23
50s 28
GOA ITINERARY
Services (Oct 8-11),Tripura (Oct 15-18),Jharkhand (Oct30-Nov2),Saurashtra (Nov7-10),Kerala (Nov 15-18) & J&K (Nov 23-26).
GOA RANJI TEAM
Dheeraj Jadhav (captain), Swapnil Asnodkar, Amogh Desai, Sagun Kamat, Darshan Misal,Snehal Kauthankar,Rahul Keni(wicket-keeper),Amit Yadav,Shadab Jakati,Rituraj Singh,Prasanth Parameshwaram,Saurabh Bandekar,Buddhadev Mangaldas,Amulya Pandarker,Gaurish Gawas. Reserves:Ganeshraj Narvekar,Sherbahadur Yadav,Keenan Vaz, Lakshay Garg
