Jadeja said he hasn’t been in contact with MS Dhoni since he changed teams for IPL 2026. He said after his first game back with Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings, Dhoni doesn’t use his phone much, and there hasn’t been a call or a private conversation with Dhoni since he left. This game meant a lot to a career that’s been going on for a long time.
Jadeja’s Comments After CSK vs RR Clash
After Rajasthan Royals won easily against CSK at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, Jadeja spoke honestly about the feelings involved in leaving a team he’d been with for thirteen years, and the odd sensation of playing against players he used to be on the same side with. He seemed to be saying exactly what he thought.
He said the decision to move was completely professional and is simply a part of his career in cricket. Jadeja also wants to talk to Dhoni, Suresh Raina and the other important players from CSK in person when they see each other, not in a quick phone call. He’s much more comfortable with that.
Emotional Encounter With Former Team Leaders
Facing his former teammates was emotionally charged because of how long Jadeja was with CSK. He admitted it was hard to leave the team that was so important in his IPL career, including all the times they won the championship. He called the whole thing both emotional and something that made him want to do well.
Jadeja also has good memories of starting his IPL career with Rajasthan Royals in t008, and that year they did win the championship. Going back to Rajasthan Royals brought those first memories back, and gave him a feeling of things continuing even as everything changed.
Performance Highlights From the IPL 2026 Opener
When Jadeja was bowling for Rajasthan Royals, he showed how good he still is as a player who can both bat and bowl. He took 2 wickets for 18 runs in his three overs, getting Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube out in his very first over. Those dismissals basically started CSK’s collapse.
Rajasthan Royals didn’t need Jadeja to bat because they reached CSK’s total with 47 balls remaining, a very comfortable win by eight wickets. This result showed that Jadeja is still valuable with the ball, and a clever option for the middle of an innings.
What the Move Means for IPL 2026 and Beyond
Jadeja's move really shows how players move between teams in the modern IPL. Players change teams, their jobs within a team change, and the leadership changes. For Rajasthan Royals, getting a player with Jadeja’s experience gives a lot of balance to their younger players and gives them more options for strategy.
CSK now not having a teammate for a long time also makes you think about who will take over from those players, and how they will work together on the field. The match showed how quickly a team’s ‘feel’ can change when experienced players leave.
Legacy, Loyalty, and a New Chapter
Jadeja is one of only a few players to have won the IPL with more than one team, having won with both Rajasthan and CSK. He thinks of the move as a chance to learn from his new teammates and to share what he’s learned over more than ten years.
Jadeja’s honest statement that Dhoni ‘doesn’t use his phone’ really got people talking and also showed the private, human side of players moving between teams. The fact that Jadeja wants to meet people in person suggests that relationships can survive even if how you do things changes.
In general, the CSK versus RR game was exciting to watch, and it reminded everyone how much a player’s move can affect people’s feelings. As the 2026 IPL continues, people will be looking closely at how Jadeja plays and what happens with him and his former teammates.
