Ravindra Jadeja has expressed his delight after finishing a nostalgic return to the Rajasthan Royals, the franchise the place his IPL journey first started. The star all-rounder, who spent many profitable years with the Chennai Tremendous Kings, will as soon as once more put on RR colours in IPL 2026, marking a homecoming greater than fifteen years within the making.
Jadeja on reuniting with Rajasthan Royals
For Jadeja, the transfer is much extra emotional than a routine franchise change. Returning to the Royals brings him again to the roots of his T20 profession and to the place the place he first earned the nickname that has stayed with him all through his IPL journey.
“I’m again in Rajasthan after fifteen years, so I really feel good returning to the place the place I began my journey and the place I obtained the title Rockstar. I’m doubly completely happy to return again to the identical place. Proper now, I’m at a stage the place I need to get pleasure from my cricket. Whoever calls me with love, from the guts and with respect, I’ll at all times prefer it,” Jadeja stated, as quoted by India At the moment.
He added that the joy he felt as a teenager nonetheless motivates him right this moment. The veteran all-rounder stated he continues to expertise the identical pleasure of going to coaching, working towards and studying new issues, and that working with new teammates and a recent help workers shall be a refreshing chapter.
“After I began taking part in, I felt the joy of going to the bottom, working towards and studying. I really feel that very same power now.”
How the commerce occurred
Jadeja’s transfer to Rajasthan was set in movement after a name from co-owner Manoj Badale. This was adopted by a dialogue with Kumar Sangakkara, who knowledgeable him {that a} commerce from CSK to RR was a real chance. Jadeja stated that the choice got here to him immediately as soon as he heard the information.
He recalled the emotional pull behind the transfer:
“The primary thought that got here to my thoughts was to return to the staff the place my journey began, the place I obtained my title and the place I started as Ravindra Jadeja the cricketer.”
RR Squad: Gamers Retained for IPL 2026
Ravindra Jadeja (from Chennai Tremendous Kings)
Sam Curran (from Chennai Tremendous Kings)
Donovan Ferreira (from Delhi Capitals)
Sandeep Sharma
Shubham Dubey
Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Lhuan-Dre Pretorius
Shimron Hetmyer
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Dhruv Jurel
Riyan Parag
Yudhvir Singh Charak
Jofra Archer
Tushar Deshpande
Kwena Maphaka
Nandre Burger
RR Releases Forward of IPL 2026
Sanju Samson (traded to Chennai Tremendous Kings)
Nitish Rana (traded to Delhi Capitals)
Wanindu Hasaranga
Mahesh Theekshana
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Kunal Singh Rathore
Akash Madhwal
Kumar Kartikeya
Ashok Sharma
Purse remaining: Rs 16.05 crore
Slots left: 9 (together with 1 abroad)