In a candid revelation, Anirudhsinh, the father of Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, disclosed that he manages his household expenses solely from the ₹20,000 pension of his late wife, shedding light on the strained relationship between him and his son.
Despite Ravindra’s residence in a luxurious four-storey bungalow in Jamnagar, Anirudhsinh chooses to live in their old 2BHK flat within the same city.
“I own land in my village and handle my finances with the ₹20,000 pension my wife receives. I reside alone in a 2BHK flat. A house-help prepares my meals. I lead my life on my own terms. Even in my 2BHK flat, there’s a dedicated room for Ravindra,” he said.
Expressing the financial struggles endured to support Jadeja’s cricketing aspirations, Anirudhsinh explained that both he and his daughter worked hard, even taking up jobs such as being a watchman.
“We put in immense effort to shape Ravindra into a cricketer. I used to carry 20-liter milk cans on my shoulder to earn a living. I worked as a watchman as well. Our roots are humble. His sister surpassed my efforts, taking care of him like a mother. Sadly, he has severed ties with her too,” he added.
Anirudhsinh went on to assert that Jadeja has distanced himself from the family, accusing the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder of severing ties with both him and his sister. He highlighted the significant contributions made by his daughter, who assumed a maternal role in caring for Ravindra.
Addressing a contentious issue involving Ravindra’s wife, Rivaba, Anirudhsinh alleged that a dispute arose over the ownership of Ravindra’s restaurant immediately after their marriage.
“Immediately after their wedding, a disagreement arose over the ownership of Ravindra’s restaurant. Rivaba insisted on transferring the ownership to her name, leading to a conflict. His sister believed he would take charge and agreed to sign, hoping for a resolution,” he said.
Anirudhsinh refuted claims of Rivaba’s parents gifting an Audi car to Ravindra, asserting that it was purchased using the cricketer’s funds.
“The reports of Ravindra’s in-laws running a thriving business are not true. Ravindra himself ordered the Audi car, and the payment was made in our name. If they were running a business, Rivaba’s mother wouldn’t be employed. Their family previously resided in railway quarters. Recently, they bought a ₹2 crore bungalow using Ravindra’s money,” he added.
He further stated that he wished that Jadeja wasn’t a cricketer or married Rivaba.
“Problems arose only a few months after their marriage. I don’t understand what influence the wife has over him. It would have been nice if they hadn’t married or if he wasn’t a cricketer,” he said.
Anirudhsinh concluded by expressing the emotional toll of the strained relationship, revealing that neither he nor his daughter calls Ravindra.
“I don’t reach out to Ravindra, and I don’t feel the need to. He is my son, I am not his son. It’s his responsibility to reach out to me. It’s all very saddening for me. Even his sister sheds tears on Rakshabandhan,” he concluded.
Ravindra Jadeja and Rivaba married in April 2016 and had their first child in 2017. Despite the personal challenges, Ravindra has continued to excel on the cricket field, recently contributing significantly to Team India’s opening Test against England. However, a hamstring injury has sidelined him for the second Test, raising questions about his availability for the upcoming third Test scheduled in Rajkot from February 15.