After career of 'more lows than highs', Jagadeesan hopes to build on recent gains
“I hope that I keep getting a lot more,” Jagadeesan says of the India jersey from the Oval Test, which will get pride of place among the jerseys on the walls of his house
Deivarayan Muthu27-Aug-2025Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter N Jagadeesan frames his various jerseys and puts them up on the wall at his home in Coimbatore. His father CJ Narayan, who played cricket for Tata Electric in Mumbai before the family moved to Coimbatore, had left a frame empty for years, reserving it for his son’s India jersey. Last month, Jagadeesan fulfilled his father’s and his own dream by being part of India’s famous Test win at The Oval, though as a reserve player.”The India jersey is now going into the frame, and I hope that I keep getting a lot more,” Jagadeesan tells ESPNcricinfo. “To be part of a match that was so intense and thrilling made it even more special. For us to go and win the game from a situation where a lot [of people] might not have expected us to, it was really special. It was definitely a moment that gave me goosebumps.”Jagadeesan’s maiden India call-up was reward for his prolific run over the past two Ranji Trophy seasons. During the period, he had racked up 1490 runs in 26 innings at an average of nearly 65. Only Karun Nair has scored more runs (1553) than Jagadeesan across the previous two Ranji seasons, with the benefit of more innings (33), among batters from the Elite Group.
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Jagadeesan has been on the fringes of India A and part of the wider pool of targeted players shortlisted by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence over the past 12 months.”Definitely, it [being part of the team management’s plans] gives you a lot of confidence because you taste success at the next level,” he says. “I mean, even playing for my Under-13 district team in Coimbatore, that was also a taste of success, right? Likewise, every time you taste success one step higher, it always gives you a lot of confidence and it also makes you feel grateful to be presented with that opportunity. In a country where there are a billion people, only a few thousands max get to do what I’m doing right now.”After the TNPL, Jagadeesan returned to the red-ball grind, training with the India team in London and, upon arrival in Chennai, he turned out for his club Vijay CC at the Guru Nanak College ground and kept wicket to Sai Kishore’s big-turning deliveries ahead of the Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru. Another bumper domestic season could take Jagadeesan a step closer to a Test debut. “100%, as I said, [playing for India] is the ultimate goal. I also have the goal of winning a Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu. But I just feel that things will have to happen as well. Personally, I have to just make sure that I contribute to the team as much as possible.”Jagadeesan is particularly upbeat about Tamil Nadu’s chances this season, thanks to their expanding fast-bowling pool. Sandeep Warrier and Gurjapneet Singh, who will team up with Jagadeesan for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy, are back to full fitness, while D Deepesh and RS Ambrish have come in with the experience of having played for India Under-19s in England. Sonu Yadav and rookie A Esakkimuthu, who hit speeds north of 140kph in the TNPL, lend more depth to the seam attack.”Till now, the result has not come – that is winning the Ranji Trophy – but I know for a fact that we’ve been putting in the effort towards winning it,” Jagadeesan says. “Ranji Trophy is not a single-man show. Fast bowlers are something which we were always in search of.”Going into this season, we have a healthy competition among the fast bowlers. Earlier we used to have around three fast bowlers. Now, we have six-seven. And that’s definitely a very good sign for the team. Tamil Nadu has immense talent. As long as we step onto the field and do our jobs religiously, this will be a team that will go on to achieve a lot of things.”