Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja expressed happiness after his all-round performance against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL 2026 match on Wednesday. He stated that contributing to the team's victory and receiving the Player of the Match award felt rewarding, dedicating the honor to his wife, Rivaba Jadeja.
Challenging Pitch Conditions
Jadeja noted that the pitch was not easy for batting due to movement, so his strategy was to stay at the crease and build his innings. He scored 43 runs off 29 balls, anchoring the Royals' total.
Bowling Strategy Against Pooran
Regarding his bowling, Jadeja explained that the ball was gripping, allowing him to vary his pace effectively. He anticipated Nicholas Pooran's aggressive approach and used variations to dismiss him, humorously remarking that he had the batter “in his pocket.”
“Feeling good, getting Man of the Match and winning. I would like to dedicate this award to the education minister of Gujarat (his wife, Rivaba Jadeja). She said yesterday that I will do well and I did. Wicket wasn't that easy because the ball was swinging and seaming. I just wanted to play longer. He's (Pooran) in my pocket (chuckles). A random thought came into my mind. The ball was gripping a little bit. I knew I'd get a little hold. I knew he might play that shot at some stage, and I was mixing my pace. Today I looked to bowl slow,” Jadeja said after the match.
Match Summary
Jadeja also took a key wicket, contributing to Rajasthan Royals' 40-run victory. The bowlers, led by Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, maintained control during the chase, ending the team's two-match losing streak.
Points Table Movement
With this win, Rajasthan Royals climbed to second place in the points table with 10 points from seven matches. Lucknow Super Giants remained in ninth position.
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