'Shayad ye chal jaye middle order mai' - Fans in shock as Kedar Jadhav replaces David Willey in RCB camp for remainder of IPL 2023

Kedar Jadhav has been named as Royal Challengers Bangalore's replacement for David Willey for the remainder of the Indian Premier League 2023 season on Monday. The right-handed batter, who has previously played 17 matches for RCB, was signed for Rs 1 crore.

Willey, an England all-rounder, appeared in four matches for RCB this season, taking three wickets. Jadhav, on the other hand, who made his IPL debut in 2010, has played 93 IPL games and scored 1196 runs.

The 38-year-old Maharashtra all-rounder has appeared in 73 One-Day Internationals for India, hitting 1,389 runs and taking 27 wickets with his off-breaks. He also appeared in nine Twenty20 Internationals, scoring 58 runs. Jadhav did Marathi commentary after going unsold in this year's IPL auction.

Jadhav debuted in the IPL with Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) against RCB in 2010, becoming one of just nine Indians to achieve a half-century on debut. The all-rounder had been out of limited-overs cricket since November 2021, but he made a comeback in November 2022 with two games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

He then enjoyed a spectacular return to First-Class cricket, scoring 283 in his first FC match in four years since January 2019. Jadhav's century was also his first First Class century since late 2018 and his first 200-plus performance since his record-breaking 2013-14 Ranji Trophy season, in which he scored 1223 runs in 17 innings.

Royal Challengers Bangalore in Indian Premier League 2023

As for RCB, they have blown hot and cold this season. Having played eight games in the season so far, the Men in Red and Black have managed four wins. They currently stand sixth in the points table with eight points under their belt.

The team led by Faf du Plessis will next take on Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on the 1st of May. It remains to be seen if Kedar Jadhav finds a spot in the RCB playing XI. It, however, is a likely option since their middle-order batting lineup has struggled throughout this season.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Kedar Jadhav joining RCB

200+ strike rate in every match pic.twitter.com/DZhgGBkjzt

— Micheal Scofield (@callme__uma) May 1, 2023

He replace shahbaz ahmed in playing XI
Good choice

— Anudeep (@Anudeepshetty5) May 1, 2023

Shayad ye chal jaye middle order mai 🤞🤞🤞

— Ashish. (@____ashish_m) May 1, 2023

Ab bs yehi dekhna reh gya tha!!!!! My god!! No one can save rcb now!

— Frustated RCbian (@ghost5923) May 1, 2023

If we gave chance to Vijay Shankar, we should also support jadhav

— Chilli P (@nosalacupnamde) May 1, 2023

Just got a dream that LoRd Kedar came as a replacement in the middle of the season and performed beautifully with both bat and ball and made RCB win their first IPL title

— Krishna (@imKrishna09) May 1, 2023

Wow - is India so short of talent that we’re signing retired & last generation players? What r we expecting next - @LucknowIPL signing @venkateshprasad 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

— Rishabh Shah 🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@rishlee) May 1, 2023

I remember David Willey being the replacement player for injured kedar some years ago! 😁

It's a good move TBH, kedar is a much better player than anyone of the current middle order bat (in their current form). I expect him to play a few good knocks if not more.

— Bilal Hussain (@ibilalhusain) May 1, 2023

Oh shit it’s the real account

— Sahil Arora (@arorasahil07) May 1, 2023

abhi beech IPL me?

— Vipin Tiwari (@vipintiwari952) May 1, 2023