Before becoming one of Chennai Super Kings' most iconic players in the franchise's history, Ravindra Jadeja had his heart set on something very different in the early days of the IPL.
Appearing on R Ashwin’s YouTube show Kutti Stories with Ash, Jadeja opened up about his excitement before the first-ever IPL season in 2008 - and how his childhood idol Yuvraj Singh was at the centre of it.
Follow The Sporting News India on WhatsApp
What did Ravindra Jadeja say about his desire to play with Yuvraj Singh in the first IPL?
Recalling the conversations from the U-19 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur in 2008, Jadeja said he and his teammates were already dreaming about being picked in the inaugural IPL season. But what truly lit him up was the idea of playing alongside Yuvraj.
"Even before the U-19 days, I used to follow Yuvraj Singh, and be inspired by his batting, bowling, and fielding skills," said Jadeja.
More: Virat Kohli breaks his own record - Who has scored most 50-plus scores in wins in an IPL season?
He added, "I was like which team would Yuvi pa play? And will I be drafted into the same team?"
Jadeja also spoke about how unfamiliar the entire concept of the IPL was when it was first announced. T20 cricket itself was relatively new, and most young players had no clue how big the league would eventually become.
"Honestly, when we were first picked, I didn't know what to make of it because T20 and the IPL were considerably new formats," Jadeja admitted.
The all-rounder added: "The highlight was that you got to play with international players and Indian team players."