Ex-India star who played 15 Test matches, now heir to that royal throne

Former Indian cricket team star Ajay Jadeja has been named the next Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, also known as Jamnagar, a princely state in the historic Halar region on the southern bank of the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat. In an official statement, the announcement was confirmed by the Maharaja Jam Saheb of Nawanagar. Jadeja represented the Indian cricket team between 1992 and 2000 when he played 15 Tests and 196 One-Day Internationals. In a letter published by news agency ANI, Shatrusalyasinhji Digvijaysinhji Jadeja said that Ajay has also agreed to become his heir.

Jadeja comes from a family with considerable cricketing pedigree as Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy were named after his two relatives – K Ranjitsinhji and KS Duleepsinhji.

The announcement came after a recent visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw, Poland in August.

“Yesterday I saw a direct and vivid example of our deep human bonds. I had the honor of paying my tribute at the monument of the Maharaja of Kolhapur. I am happy that even today the Polish people respect his philanthropy and generosity.” “To perpetuate his memory, we will launch the Jam Saheb Nawanagar youth action program between India and Poland. Every year 20 young people from Poland are taken to visit India,” Prime Minister Modi said after the visit.

Apart from his cricket career, Jadeja acted in a few films and also took part in the dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’. In recent times he has worked as both a cricket commentator and pundit.

He was also the mentor of the Afghanistan cricket team in the 2023 ODI World Cup.