“Very important player for RR” - Ex-CSK player backs Ravindra Jadeja ahead of IPL 2026
Published - 17 Mar 2026, 03:13 PM | Updated - 17 Mar 2026, 03:14 PM
Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath made a strong statement on all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja returning to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Badrinath said that the move will help his career after his on-field role was reduced during his final seasons with Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
During the offseason, Chennai Super Kings traded Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Sanju Samson. Jadeja will now play for the franchise where he began his IPL journey. The left-handed batter signed a ₹14 crore contract for the upcoming tournament, which begins on March 28.
Ravindra Jadeja Is Going to Be a Very Important Player for RR - Subramaniam Badrinath
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Subramaniam Badrinath said the trade brings Ravindra Jadeja back to his roots. He expects the 37-year-old to take on bigger responsibilities for his new team.
"He is going to be a very important player for RR this season. This is a case of life coming full circle for Jadeja, having started his career with RR. Also, his role had diminished with CSK. But for RR, he'll be a finisher, bowl all four overs, and be a senior player."
Ravindra Jadeja Returns to Rajasthan Royals After CSK Struggles
Ravindra Jadeja played his first two IPL seasons for Rajasthan Royals. He was part of the squad that won the inaugural 2008 title under the captaincy of the late Shane Warne. He stayed with the franchise until 2009 before moving to Kochi Tuskers Kerala and later Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Jadeja had a difficult season with CSK in 2025. He took only 10 wickets in 14 matches at an average above 32 and an economy rate of 8.56. His struggles reflected the team’s overall poor performance.
Chennai Super Kings finished at the bottom of the points table for the first time in their history, managing only four wins in 14 matches.
It’s Also Going to Be a Crucial Season for Ravindra Jadeja - Subramaniam Badrinath
Subramaniam Badrinath emphasized that the upcoming season holds significant weight for the veteran cricketer given his recent form.
"It's also going to be a crucial season for Jadeja. There is no certainty on how long he'll continue playing, be in two or three years. But he is under pressure to perform for RR," said Badrinath (via the aforementioned source).
In the IPL, Ravindra Jadeja has scored over 3,000 runs and taken 170 wickets in 254 matches. He was a key member of Chennai Super Kings’ title-winning teams in 2018, 2021, and 2023. He also hit the winning runs against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2023 final.
Rajasthan Royals will aim for a turnaround after a disappointing season last year. They finished ninth in the points table with only four wins in 14 matches. The Jaipur-based team will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati on March 30.
Also read: MS Dhoni begged to retire by AB de Villiers ahead of IPL 2026
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