This Former Indian Cricketer Named Heir to Jamnagar Throne

October 14, 2024: Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja has been officially named the next Jamsaheb of Nawanagar, now known as Jamnagar, a princely state located in the historical Halar region on the southern shores of the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat. This prestigious announcement was confirmed by the current Maharaja Jamsaheb of Nawanagar in an official statement.

Ajay Jadeja hails from a royal lineage with deep ties to cricket. His family’s legacy in the sport is celebrated, with both the Ranji Trophy and the Duleep Trophy named after his relatives, KS Ranjitsinhji and KS Duleepsinhji, respectively. These two cricketing legends brought pride to the princely state and left a lasting mark on Indian cricket.

Earlier this year, in August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw, Poland. This memorial honours Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji, the former Maharaja of Nawanagar, renowned for his humanitarian efforts during World War II. He is fondly remembered as the “Good Maharaja” for offering refuge to thousands of Polish children during the war.

Ajay Jadeja’s father, Daulatsinhji Jadeja, also played a prominent role in public service, serving three terms as a Member of Parliament from Jamnagar. Jadeja’s mother hails from Alappuzha, Kerala. He is married to Aditi Jaitly, daughter of politician Jaya Jaitly, and the couple has two children, Aiman and Ameera.