Ajay Jadeja quits as Delhi coach

New Delhi: Former India batsman Ajay Jadeja has quit as coach of the Delhi Ranji Trophy team, and has said that his “opinions or inputs don’t matter” to the Delhi and District Cricket Association. Jadeja was appointed during Delhi’s controversy-filled run-up to the 2015-16 domestic season and did not travel with the side for their first Ranji game against Rajasthan in Jaipur. Reports suggest that former Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya is one of the contenders to replace Jadeja.

DDCA president Sneh Prakash Bansal had told PTI that Jadeja missed the game because his son was unwell and denied speculation that his absence was due to Amit Bhandari’s appointment as assistant coach. Jadeja, too, denied his absence was related to Bhandari’s appointment, but said he was disappointed with the manner in which DDCA had appointed a few members of the support staff.

“I have read in the newspapers that the reason I have not travelled with the team is because Amit Bhandari has been appointed assistant coach,” Jadeja told the Hindu. “I would like to clarify that this is not the reason. It is sad to see that once again, players are being used to settle personal scores in the DDCA.

“Now, it seems the DDCA is back to working on its own and does not need the services of anyone appointed by the government nominees or otherwise. No one within the organisation seems to have a problem with this way of functioning.

“Obviously, my opinion or inputs don’t matter to DDCA. I wish Delhi cricket the best.”