India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Saturday (March 5) remembered late Shane Warne’s role in his progress as a budding cricketer back in 2018.

Having played a big part in India’s U-19 World Cup triumph in 2008, Jadeja was roped in by the Rajasthan Royals for the inaugural IPL season and Warne's belief in the youngster brought the best out of him.

Royals won the IPL 2008 and Jadeja did play his part, which saw him being labelled by Warne as ‘The Rockstar'.

As the world mourned the sudden demise of Warne at 52 due to a suspected heart attack, Jadeja too grieved the unfortunate passing.

“It was a shocking news. The moment I heard it, I was so sad and I wasn't feeling well. I found it difficult to believe that this can be true,” said Jadeja after the second day's play in the first Test against Sri Lanka.

“When I first met him in 2008, he was already a legend and I couldn't believe that I would be playing alongside a player of Shane Warne's stature," he added.

"We were just coming out of our U-19s and to share the dressing room with Warne was a huge thing for youngsters like us. He gave me a huge platform and post U-19, it was a direct entry into the IPL.”

Ravindra Jadeja further said that Warne's death shows the fickle nature of life.

“His death shows that there are no certainties in life. Anything can happen anytime and this kind of news suddenly shocks you to 'what the hell is happening?' I want to pray to Almighty that his soul rests in peace,” he stated.

(With PTI inputs)