Ravindra Jadeja is set for a nostalgic homecoming as he returns to the Rajasthan Royals after a gap of 17 years, adding both experience and balance to the squad ahead of IPL 2026. The 36-year-old all-rounder was part of the Royals’ historic title-winning campaign in 2008 under Shane Warne and now rejoins the franchise in a high-profile trade deal that saw Sanju Samson and Sam Curran move in the opposite direction.
Having already linked up with the squad in Jaipur, Jadeja has hit the ground running in training, showcasing his trademark intensity. One of the standout moments from the camp involved a lively net session with Yashasvi Jaiswal. In a video shared by the franchise, Jaiswal was seen launching Jadeja for a towering six early in the session.
Ravindra Jadeja’s reaction, however, stole the show. With a smile, he quipped, “Room mein practice karke aaya hai yeh,” a comment that quickly went viral and added a touch of humour to an otherwise competitive environment.
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As IPL 2026 approaches, Jaiswal will play a crucial role at the top of the order, especially in the absence of Samson. The young left-hander is expected to open alongside rising sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, with added responsibility to anchor the innings for the Riyan Parag-led side.
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Rajasthan Royals will begin their campaign against Chennai Super Kings on March 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. They will then travel to face the Gujarat Titans on April 4, before returning to Guwahati for back-to-back fixtures against the Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
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Meanwhile, Rajasthan have suffered a setback with Sam Curran likely to miss the entire season due to a groin injury. The England all-rounder, who last featured in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal against India, was expected to play a key role with both bat and ball.
With Jadeja’s return and a young core stepping up, the Rajasthan Royals will be aiming to strike the right balance as they chase their second IPL title.
