Ravindra Jadeja Makes Historic IPL Comeback with Rajasthan Royals
Jadeja's Remarkable Return
Ravindra Jadeja marked a significant milestone in his career by setting a new record in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during his second debut for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) against his previous team, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on March 30. In this opening match of the 2026 season for both teams, Jadeja showcased his skills as the Royals triumphed over the Super Kings by nine wickets. He made an immediate impact, taking two wickets in his first over, dismissing Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube, which left CSK struggling at 57-6. Jadeja concluded his spell with impressive figures of 2 for 18 in three overs, while CSK was all out for 127 runs. The Royals secured a convincing victory, finishing the match with 37 balls remaining, and Jadeja did not get an opportunity to bat.
For context, Jadeja joined the Royals last season in a trade that saw Sanju Samson move to CSK. The 37-year-old all-rounder is regarded as one of the finest players in the history of the Chennai franchise, having been part of the team since 2012 and contributing to their three title wins.
Historic Comeback for Jadeja
This match signifies a homecoming for Jadeja, who began his IPL journey with the Royals in 2008, playing a crucial role in the team that won the inaugural trophy under Shane Warne's leadership. He also played for RR in 2009 but was suspended for the 2010 season. Notably, Jadeja's last appearance for RR was on May 20, 2009, against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Durban, marking a gap of 6158 days—the longest in IPL history between two appearances for the same franchise. The previous record was held by Karn Sharma, who had a 14-year gap before playing for RCB.
Longest Gap Between Two Appearances for Same Team in IPL History
| Player | Gap (Days) | Team | Start | End |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 6158 | RR | May 20, 2009 | March 30, 2026 |
| Karn Sharma | 5093 | RCB | April 22, 2009 | April 3, 2023 |
| Mandeep Singh | 4751 | KKR | March 29, 2010 | April 1, 2023 |
| Mayank Agarwal | 4423 | RCB | April 13, 2023 | May 23, 2025 |
| Vijay Shankar | 3974 | CSK | May 13, 2014 | March 30, 2025 |
Additionally, Jadeja ranks third for the longest gap between matches played for a franchise in men's T20 across all competitions. During his absence, the Royals played 214 matches, a record surpassed only by Karn Sharma (225 matches) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (238 matches) for RCB. It's interesting to note that Bhuvneshwar did not play for RCB during his initial stint but participated in a Champions League T20 match in 2009 under Anil Kumble's captaincy.