NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals began their IPL 2026 journey in emphatic style, registering an eight-wicket victory over five-time champions Chennai Super Kings at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Monday.
With the contest packed with turning moments, Ravindra Jadeja’s wicket celebration became one of the most talked-about highlights. After getting rid of a CSK all-rounder, Jadeja launched into a playful “gun” routine, drawing immediate attention from players and fans alike.
In the post-match discussion, former India cricketers Suresh Raina and Anil Kumble—serving as part of the expert panel on JioStar—asked Jadeja whether the gesture was a brand-new addition. “Jadeja, ye naya aaya hai market mein?” the duo asked.
Jadeja responded: “Ye main CSK se jab khela karta tha, tab main ye celebration karta tha. Maine socha to be continued karein.”
He then offered a glimpse into his thought process during the over. “Dube ka mujhe pata tha wo spinners ko pehle ball se maarne ko sochta hai. Wo mere dimaag mein kahin na kahin tha, but at the same time wo bhi soch raha tha ki agar uska wicket gaya to CSK ka middle order khali ho jayega. Positive mindset se ball daalne ka soch raha tha main bas,” Jadeja said.
Jadeja also opened up about the emotional side of playing against his former franchise, Chennai Super Kings. “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,” he remarked.
He added further context about his return to the franchise that brought him early success. “That memory has always stayed with me—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. My aim is to learn as much as I can with the new group and also share my experience with the team,” Jadeja said.
Rajasthan Royals’ influence was clear with the ball as well. RR restricted CSK to 127, creating a straightforward chase that was driven by a rapid innings from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Speaking about the pitch and how it played, Jadeja explained that the wicket helped his style. “The wicket was a bit sticky, so it suited my kind of bowling. My job was simply to bowl in the right areas. When you hit the right areas on a wicket that is holding up slightly, the ball tends to grip and come slower, which feels good as a bowler. Getting such a surface to bowl on in the very first match boosts your confidence as a bowler.”
He also described the tactical adjustment that paid off. “I was thinking of bowling it at the stumps, as I wanted to take a chance in case he didn’t middle it. But when he hit me for a six, I quickly changed my strategy to bowling wide. He would have kept hitting me on a straight line, so I decided to finish on the fifth-sixth-stump line. I thought if he went across, he might not get his timing right, and that’s what happened. Luckily, he did not get the elevation he was looking for, and it was a big wicket for us.”
Rajasthan Royals will now take on Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on April 4.
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