Nearly two decades after he was anointed ‘Rockstar’ when he first showed the cricket world his wares, Ravindra Jadeja is back with his old IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals. On Monday, he played his first game
for the inaugural champions and, incidentally, it was against his last franchise Chennai Super Kings, where he spent 12 years of his career.
And he produced a sparkling show on return, taking 2/18 from three overs to limit CSK to 127-all out before RR chased down the target in quick time for an eight-wicket win.
Jadeja is enjoying life at RR.
“I’m liking the pink colour. The yellow had started to feel a bit old, but I’m just joking,” Jadeja said on JioHotstar.
Jadeja @kadaipaneer_ pic.twitter.com/u2z2hVJO7o
— 🪐 (@__jaisball) March 31, 2026
However, Jadeja admitted leaving CSK wasn’t easy.
“Obviously, leaving a franchise like CSK, where I had played for 12-13 years, was a little difficult initially. It was very emotional. But I told myself that changes like these are also part of the journey. The good thing was that I’m now with the team where I had first won an IPL title,” he said.
Jadeja won his first IPL title with RR in 2008 and now returns as a veteran who is eager to share his experience with the team.
“That memory has always stayed with me, that after the Under-19 World Cup, I started my IPL career there and won the title in my very first season. I have carried those memories along with a positive mindset, and my aim is to learn as much as I can with the new group and also share my experience with the team,” he said.
Jadeja Explains Send-Off To Shivam Dube
Jadeja enjoyed the dismissal of his former India and CSK teammate Shivam Dube, giving him quite as send-off.
“When I played for CSK, I used to celebrate similarly, so it was my ‘to be continued’ moment,” Jadeja said. “A batter like Dube doesn’t give you any room for error and tries to hit big shots from the first ball. That was in my mind, but my main aim was to get him out because his wicket at that time would have probably ended their hopes, given that only bowlers were to follow next and there was no other hard-hitter in the line-up.”
