Kamal Ghorui
Ravindra Jadeja made a memorable return to Rajasthan Royals after 17 years, marking his comeback in striking fashion with a double-wicket spell against Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium on Monday. Sporting the Royals’ pink jersey, the veteran left-arm spinner impressed with figures of 2/18, using clever variations and subtle changes of pace to complement an early onslaught from Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger. “I think pink looks good on me, I guess. I’ve known Shivam Dube for a long time—I’ve bowled to him in the nets, so I understand how he approaches spinners. I was prepared for that and tried to bowl outside off, because I knew he would look to play big shots against me,” Jadeja said during the mid-innings broadcast chat. His dismissals of Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube proved pivotal as RR bowled out five-time champions CSK for a meagre 127. Social media buzzed after Jadeja’s fiery delivery to Dube, which showcased his return in style. Reflecting on the pitch, Jadeja added, “I felt the wicket was a bit sticky and the ball was turning, so I really enjoyed bowling—my job was just to hit the right areas and let the pitch do the rest.”On the chase, Jadeja reminded the young Royals side of the need for focus, saying, “You can’t take anything for granted in cricket; no matter the target, you have to work hard, play your shots, and give your 100 percent.” With RR’s bowling and batting firing, CSK were left scrambling, with only Jamie Overton (43 off 36) offering a minor resistance. Archer, Burger, and Jadeja shared the spoils, all claiming crucial wickets in a clinical team performance. The bowlers’ efforts laid the platform for an explosive batting display from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who blazed his way to a 15-ball half-century, effectively ending the contest. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag finished the chase in just 12.1 overs, giving RR a dominant eight-wicket victory.
