Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja declared heir to Jamnagar Royal family

Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja has been announced as the next Jamsaheb of Nawanagar, more commonly known as Jamnagar, located in the historical Halar region on the southern shores of the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat.

The announcement was officially confirmed by the current Maharaja Jamsaheb of Nawanagar, Shatrusalyasinhji Digvijaysinhji Jadeja, who is Ajay's father's cousin. In a statement, Shatrusalyasinhji revealed that Ajay has agreed to take on the role of his heir. The festival of Dussehra is believed to mark the day the Pandavas emerged victorious from exile.

"Dashera is the day on which the Pandavas felt victorious on their successful completion of their 14 years of incognito existence. I today am also feeling victorious by Ajay Jadeja condescending to be my successor and the next Jamsaheb of Nawanagar which I truely believe is a great boon for the people of Jamnagar. Thank you, Ajay," he said in a statement.

Check out the Jamnagar Royal family's official declaration here:

Ajay Jadeja' s father served three terms as a Member of Parliament

Jamnagar's royal family has long been associated with cricket, boasting a rich legacy in the sport. The prestigious Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy, are named after Ajay's relatives, K.S. Ranjitsinhji and K.S. Duleepsinhji, respectively.

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Jadeja's cricketing career spanned from 1992 to 2000, and represented India in 15 Test matches and 196 One Day Internationals. After retiring from professional cricket, the 53-year-old has remained connected to the sport, including as a commentator and an expert for several news channels.

Recently, Jadeja also served as the team mentor for the Afghanistan cricket team during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. Under his guidance, the team achieved victories against England and Pakistan. Jadeja has also tried his hand at acting in Bollywood movies and participating in the dance reality show "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa." 

Meanwhile, his father, Daulatsinhji Jadeja, served three terms as a Member of Parliament, representing the Jamnagar Lok Sabha constituency. In August 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his respects to the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw, Poland. The memorial honours Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji, a former Maharaja of Nawanagar, who is known as the 'Good Maharaja' for his humanitarian efforts during World War II.