Ravindra Jadeja opens up on how he wanted to retire in 2005

We may not have seen Jadeja in an Indian jersey had he stuck to his decision

Team India and Gujarat Lions all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is one of the most popular characters in Indian cricket at present. The Saurashtra lad who made his international debut in the year 2009 has reportedly revealed how he wanted to step aside from the game as a teenager.

Jadeja hails from a very humble family background as his father used to work as a watchman in a security agency. In a tragic accident in the year 2005, the star all-rounder lost his mother and was forced to contemplate a premature retirement from the game.

However, his family and friends ensured that he did not go through with the decision by giving him some good advice. As it turned out, Ravindra Jadeja did the right thing by listening to them and got his first break in the national team just 4 years later.

Since then, Jadeja has gone on to represent the Indian team across all three formats and is one of its key players at present. In a career that has lasted 7 years so far, he has played 16 Tests, 126 ODIs and 37 T20Is and has also been part of India's campaigns in a number of major cricketing events.

The all-rounder has also been a regular feature in the Indian Premier League and is currently playing for the Gujarat Lions franchise. Ravindra Jadeja also got married very recently to Rajkot girl Reeva Solanki.

Had Jadeja not changed his mind after thinking of retiring from the game, the Indian team would have certainly missed out on the services of an enterprising cricketer.