Ravindra Jadeja turned in a decisive all-round display as Rajasthan Royals beat Lucknow Super Giants by 40 runs, later sharing his thoughts with a blend of candour, humour, and heartfelt gratitude. The experienced campaigner was named Player of the Match for an unbeaten 43 and for the key impact he made with the ball, lifting a contest in which Rajasthan’s batting had once again needed someone to provide control and momentum.
Jadeja’s award and the message behind it
Speaking soon after the win, Jadeja sounded pleased not just about the recognition, but about the result for his side. He then used the moment to dedicate the award to a special person back home, crediting encouragement he received just the previous day. “I’m feeling good—getting Man of the Match and helping the team win,” Jadeja said. “Before anything else, I want to dedicate this award to the Education Minister of Gujarat. She told me yesterday itself that you’re going to do wonders tomorrow. So I’d like to thank her.”
Why Jadeja paced his innings
Jadeja explained that the pitch and ball movement made batting far from straightforward. With the ball coming off the surface in a way that encouraged seam and swing, he opted to prioritise patience over risk. “The wicket wasn’t that easy. The ball was seaming and swinging,” he said. “So I thought, let me stay at the crease as long as I can. That’s what I was discussing with Donovan and whoever was next to bat. We planned to play long—because in T20 cricket, you never know what can happen. If the last over comes and we cash in, like we got 20-odd runs, then that’s the thinking behind it.”
How he approached the final-over bowling battle
In the late stages, Jadeja also described the challenge of bowling after injury, especially against a batter facing genuine pace. He said he relied on his own strengths and encouraged clear communication with his bowling partner. “Coming from injury, it’s not that easy bowling with that pace,” he noted. “But I backed my strength. I was speaking to my partner—‘Let’s back each other and play good cricket.’ On this wicket the ball was doing a lot: it was seaming and there was bounce too. So it’s not simple to play any shot at any time.”
A quick joke after dismissing Pooran
Jadeja even injected a lighter moment into his interview when discussing his celebration after taking Nicholas Pooran’s wicket. “He’s in my pocket,” he said, smiling. “Nothing serious—just a random thought came into my mind, and I did it.”
Adjustments with the ball: pace and grip
With the ball, Jadeja highlighted how he made choices based on grip and movement at his end. He said the surface was holding the ball enough to influence his speed and length decisions. “Because the ball was gripping a little bit,” he explained. “I was thinking, should I bowl quicker on this wicket or should I bowl slow? So I decided to bowl a few slower balls. Then I realised: if I bowl slow, I might get some hold from the wicket. That’s exactly what I was looking to do.”
Targeting Mitchell Marsh’s preferred areas
He also mapped out his plan against Mitchell Marsh, pointing to how the boundary geometry offered specific opportunities on the midwicket and long-on sides. “The midwicket side and long-on side were a little shorter compared to other areas,” Jadeja said. “So I knew he might look to play that shot at some stage. I was mixing up my pace—slow, wide, and full. Today I was looking to bowl slow.”
How the match swung: Rajasthan’s total and LSG’s chase
Jadeja’s performance proved pivotal in a game where Rajasthan struggled to find consistent rhythm with the bat. Still, his late push helped the team post 159 for 6. From there, Rajasthan’s bowlers—sparked by Jofra Archer—completed the job as Lucknow Super Giants were restricted to 119 all out. On a night when Rajasthan needed someone to step up, Jadeja delivered with both bat and ball, reaffirming his value for the franchise.
