With an estimated net worth of ₹1,450 crore, Ajay Jadeja surpasses Virat Kohli on list of India's richest cricketers: Reports
With a reported net worth of ₹1,450 crore, former India batter Ajay Jadeja is said to have surpassed Virat Kohli on the list of India's richest cricketers. As per numerous media reports, Jadeja's net worth soared to ₹1,450 crore after he was named the heir to the Jamnagar Royal Throne. Kohli's net worth is estimated to be around ₹1,000 crore.
The change in Jadeja's fortunes occurred on Dussehra on October 12 when the Maharaja Jamsaheb of Nawanagar announced the former India cricketer as heir to the Jamnagar Royal Throne. In a public announcement, Maharaja Jamsaheb said (via GQ India):
“The festival of Dussehra marks the day the Pandavas emerged victorious from exile. Today, on Dussehra, I am equally happy, as I have found a resolution to one of my dilemmas thanks to Ajay Jadeja, who has accepted to be my heir. Ajay Jadeja taking up the responsibility of serving the people of Jamnagar is truly a boon.”
Jamnagar and cricket's connection runs way deeper than Jadeja. The Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy are named after KS Ranjitsinhji and KS Duleepsinhji, both of whom belong to Jamnagar and are related to Jadeja. The latter's father Daulatsinghji was a former Member of Parliament (MP) from Jamnagar.
About Ajay Jadeja's cricketing journey
A former middle-order batter, Jadeja was a constant presence in the Indian ODI team of the 1990s. He represented the country in 196 one-day matches and scored 5,359 runs at an average of 37.47, with six hundreds and 30 fifties. The 53-year-old represented India in three World Cups - 1992, 1996, and 1999.
Apart from one-day cricket, the former India batter also featured in 15 Test matches, scoring 576 runs at an average of 26.18, with four half-centuries, which included a best of 96. However, his technique in red-ball cricket was often exposed on challenging surfaces. As a result, he could not flourish in Test cricket.
Apart from being a shrewd middle-order batter in one-day cricket, Jadeja was also regarded as one of India's best fielders alongside Mohammad Azharuddin and Robin Singh. He was also the mentor of the Afghanistan team that put up a highly impressive show in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
In his post-cricketing days, Jadeja dabbled in acting, featuring in a couple of Bollywood movies. He has also been a contestant on the celebrity dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.