Ravindra Jadeja has finally broken his silence on one of the most dramatic and controversial chapters in Chennai Super Kings’ recent history—his sudden mid-season removal as captain during the IPL 2022 season. Back then, Jadeja was entrusted with the captaincy by the legendary MS Dhoni, marking what many believed would be a new era for the franchise. However, things didn’t go as planned.
CSK’s campaign quickly unravelled as they suffered four consecutive losses, triggering tension inside the dressing room and putting immense pressure on Jadeja. After just eight matches, in which CSK managed only two wins, the franchise quietly relieved him of his captaincy duties. MS Dhoni was reinstated as captain, but even his return couldn’t revive the team’s fortunes.
The once-dominant side ended IPL 2022 at ninth place, winning just four games—a shocking downturn for the franchise. Rumours of a rift between Jadeja and the team management surfaced at the time, fueling speculation that the all-rounder might leave CSK altogether. But those rumours remained unconfirmed, and the silence from both sides only added to the speculation.
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Interestingly, CSK chose to retain Jadeja for the 2023 season, a decision that proved crucial when he played a match-winning cameo in the IPL 2023 final to help CSK clinch their fifth title under Dhoni’s captaincy.
Now, in a candid interview on the YouTube show ‘Kutti Stories With Ash,’ Ravindra Jadeja opened up about his captaincy stint. Without blaming anyone specifically, he explained the harsh realities of T20 leadership. “It was difficult. In T20 cricket, every ball is an event. It is a fast game, but for me it was an experience. I could have done better,” Jadeja said.
He emphasised that when the team isn’t performing, the captain inevitably takes the fall for decisions like bowling changes and field placements. He added, “If we were winning and everyone was contributing, then it was not rocket science. But when your players, batters, and bowlers don’t contribute, you cannot win in the T20 format.”
Since lifting the IPL 2023 trophy, CSK’s fortunes have nosedived, failing to make the playoffs in both IPL 2024 and 2025. In fact, IPL 2025 was a historic low as CSK finished last for the first time, managing only four wins in 14 games. Jadeja himself has had a mixed campaign, scoring 301 runs and taking 10 wickets in this season.
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With the IPL behind him, Jadeja is now preparing for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting June 20 in Leeds, aiming to make a stronger impact on the international stage.
