It was a fairytale return to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) for star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the Indian Premier League (IPL), as he had a stellar outing against his former IPL side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the third match of the IPL 2026 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on March 30.
The legendary left-arm spinner picked up two wickets in his very first over in RR colours after returning to the franchise. Coming into bowl the eighth over, Jadeja dismissed Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube to put the five-time champions in trouble. He finished with figures of 2/18 in his three overs.
After his side’s victory, Jadeja opened up about his feelings of playing against CSK, his former IPL side, and what it felt like to him. He is enjoying this phase of his career and trying to take the change in a positive manner.
“I’m liking the pink colour. The yellow had started to feel a bit old, but I’m just joking. 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,” Jadeja said on JioHotstar.
He was an integral part of RR’s triumph in the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008. Ahead of this season, he was involved in a blockbuster IPL trade, in which he, along with Sam Curran. came to RR in exchange of Sanju Samson, who got traded to CSK.
“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 further added.
RR claimed a thumping win over the Chennai-based franchise in their season opener, beating them by eight wickets. South African pacer Nandre Burger was named Player of the Match for his match-winning spell of 2/26.
