Ravindra Jadeja has long been one of Indian cricket’s most dependable figures. Known for his sharp cricketing mind, calm presence and match-winning ability with both bat and ball, Jadeja has evolved into a natural leader admired by teammates and fans alike.
That leadership journey now appears ready to take a new turn. The star Indian all-rounder is likely to be announced as the new captain of Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The Jaipur-based franchise, which lifted the very first IPL trophy in 2008 under legendary Shane Warne, dropped a strong hint about Jadeja’s elevation through a social media post shared on Sunday, January 4. RR posted a photo of Ravindra Jadeja in RR’s dress and the caption hinted that it is going to make an announcement regarding their next captain.
Here is the post:
https://x.com/rajasthanroyals/status/2007813480985006142
The move would mark a significant moment in Ravindra Jadeja’s career. The 37-year-old from Jamnagar, Gujarat, returned to Rajasthan Royals through a high-profile trade deal with Chennai Super Kings before the IPL 2026 auction held on December 16, 2025. His return also carries emotional weight, as Jadeja previously played for Rajasthan Royals from 2008 to 2009 and played an important role in their historic title-winning campaign in the inaugural season.
The captaincy role became available after Sanju Samson moved to Chennai Super Kings as part of the trade that brought Ravindra Jadeja and England all-rounder Sam Curran to Rajasthan. Jadeja is understood to have edged past younger contenders Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal for the leadership role, largely due to his experience and calm approach.
Ravindra Jadeja has already had a taste of captaincy at the IPL level, having led Chennai Super Kings in eight matches during the 2022 season. One of the most seasoned players in the IPL history, he has featured in 254 matches across four franchises — Rajasthan Royals, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions — scoring 3,260 runs and taking 170 wickets.
If confirmed, Ravindra Jadeja will become the eighth player to captain Rajasthan Royals, following the likes of Shane Warne, Shane Watson, Rahul Dravid, Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag.
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