'Play well, that's all the reward I need': Ajay Jadeja's kind act for Afghanistan team wins hearts

Ajay Jadeja, who did a tremendous job in shaping Afghanistan into a world-beater side in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, did not accept any payment for the services he rendered as the team's mentor. Afghanistan exceeded expectations in the previous year's ODI World Cup held in India. Although anticipated to perform reasonably well in Indian conditions, their triumph over cricketing giants came as a surprise to many.

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Ajay Jadeja did not accept any payment to mentor Afghanistan team in ODI World Cup 2023

Under the leadership of Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan astounded the cricketing fraternity with their stellar performance in the 50-over World Cup. Despite initial setbacks with two losses against Bangladesh and India, they swiftly rebounded. Their campaign gained momentum with a resounding victory over defending champions England.

Subsequent wins against Pakistan and Sri Lanka further solidified Afghanistan's standing. Even against Australia, they held a commanding position until Glenn Maxwell's remarkable double-century turned the tide in favor of the eventual champions. Ultimately, Afghanistan secured a commendable sixth place in the points table, leaving a lasting impression on the tournament.

Former Indian batsman Ajay Jadeja received significant recognition for Afghanistan's bold performance in the ODI World Cup. Hired as a mentor just before the tournament, Jadeja's influence proved instrumental. Throughout the event, Afghanistan's head coach Jonathon Trott attributed much of the team's success to Jadeja, stating:

"I think Ajay brings a lot of experience having played a lot of cricket in India. He's always a good sounding board with regards to conditions, venues and also the other subcontinent teams that we've played against."

Ajay Jadeja is poised to receive further acclaim following a recent disclosure by Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) CEO Naseeb Khan. Khan revealed that Jadeja provided his mentoring services to the team without charging any fee. "If you play well, that's all the reward I need," Jadeja expressed to ACB.