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Jadeja faces ex-team CSK as Rajasthan Royals open IPL 2026 in Guwahati. Full preview, playing XI, and what his Royal return means for RR’s title hopes.
New Delhi: Eighteen years after his first IPL season with Rajasthan Royals, Ravindra Jadeja is back in pink — and tonight he faces his old side, Chennai Super Kings, the side he played for and helped win multiple IPL titles at Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati.
To make it even more dramatic, Sanju Samson — the man who once lead Rajasthan Royals — is now opening the batting for CSK.
CSK is without MS Dhoni, who is nursing a calf injury. That leaves a hole in their finishing lineup — exactly where Jadeja has made his name for years.
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Jadeja arrives in blistering form
95 not out and four wickets in a single pre-season session. Across 254 IPL matches, he has 3,200-plus runs and 170 wickets to his name.
Around him, RR have Yashasvi Jaiswal, teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, captain Riyan Parag, and Jofra Archer. The squad looks complete. The only question left is whether Jadeja can deliver when it matters most
Big Trade that changed everything
Back in November 2025, one of the biggest deals in IPL history happened. RR and CSK agreed to swap two of their biggest stars:
RR sent Sanju Samson (₹18 crore) to CSK → CSK sent Ravindra Jadeja (₹14 crore) + Sam Curran to RR
Jadeja actually started his IPL career with Rajasthan Royals way back in 2008, when RR won their only IPL title. So this is a homecoming of sorts — a legend returning to where it all began, now as a seasoned champion at age 37.
“He is the player who can influence every single department of the game. That is exactly why we wanted him.” — RR team management
Also Read:- CSK vs RR: Will Rajasthan Royals Gain Edge as MS Dhoni Misses Match?
Why Jadeja Is Such a Big Deal
In cricket, a true “all-rounder” is someone who can bat, bowl, AND field at an elite level. Jadeja does all three — and does them brilliantly. Here’s a look at what he’s done across 254 IPL matches:
3,260 IPL runs, 130+ strike rate, 170 IPL wickets, 254 matches played
Just before this season started, Jadeja smashed an unbeaten 95 in RR’s practice session AND took 4 wickets with the ball. That’s the kind of form that gets a dressing room buzzing with excitement.
Last season (IPL 2025) with CSK: 301 runs at a strike rate of 135.59, with a best of 77 not out, plus 10 wickets at an economy of 8.56.
What Role Will Jadeja Play for RR?
With the bat: He will come in at No. 6. If the top order (Jaiswal, young Vaibhav) scores big early, Jadeja can come in and hit freely. If wickets fall, he steadies the ship. He’s the perfect “finisher.”
With the ball: He’ll bowl in the middle overs (overs 7–15) with his left-arm spin. On pitches that slow down, his tight line and length can choke the opposition and take wickets.
In the field: Jadeja is one of the best fielders in world cricket. Expect diving catches, sharp run-outs, and misfields from the opposition when they see him in the outfield.
Also Read:- Can IPL 2026 Change History? These IPL Teams Have Never Won the Trophy
How Jadeja Makes RR a Better Team
Last season, Rajasthan Royals had a young, exciting but sometimes inconsistent batting lineup. They also lacked a quality spinner who could win matches on his own. Jadeja fixes both problems in one go.
Pair him with leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, and you get a spin duo that can slow any innings down and take wickets in the middle. Add Jofra Archer at pace, and RR suddenly look like a complete, well-balanced squad — young energy at the top, experience and class in the middle.
Beyond cricket skills, Jadeja brings calm. He’s played in IPL finals, ICC finals, and high-pressure knockout matches. Riyan Parag is the official captain, but Jadeja is the senior voice — the one the younger players look up to when nerves creep in.
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Both Teams Squad
Chennai Super Kings Squad: Sanju Samson(w), Ayush Mhatre, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Urvil Patel, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Akeal Hosein, Sarfaraz Khan, MS Dhoni (Ruled out due to calf injury), Dewald Brevis (Ruled out) , Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Chahar, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, Aman Khan, Gurjapneet Singh, Zakary Foulkes, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer
Rajasthan Royals Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Riyan Parag(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Adam Milne, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey, Nandre Burger, Kuldeep Sen, Sushant Mishra, Donovan Ferreira, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Vignesh Puthur, Ravi Singh, Aman Rao Perala, Brijesh Sharma
