Finally speaking out, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja discussed his mid-season dismissal as captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2022 Indian Premier League. After regular captain and renowned wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni chose to go down three years ago, the all-rounder was named CSK's new leader.
CSK lost the first four games and ended up at the bottom of the points standings; therefore, the move backfired. After eight games, the team fired Jadeja as captain and reinstated Dhoni, but it was still unable to keep them from getting knocked out of the playoffs.
In the aftermath, there were many speculations of a rift between MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, and it was even claimed that the all-rounder would be parting ways with the franchise in the upcoming season. However, Jadeja continues to play for CSK and even helped them win the IPL 2023 tournament.
"It was difficult. In T20 cricket, every ball is an event. It is a fast game, but for me it was an experience. I could have done better. As a captain, if your team is not doing well, then all the blame falls on the captaincy. Thinking, bowling changes, fielding chances. Unfortunately, the team was not doing well. If we were winning and everyone was contributing, then it was not rocket science," said Jadeja on Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube Channel on his flagship show 'Kutti Stories With Ash.'
"Sometimes, normal things work, but when your players, batters, and bowlers don't contribute, you cannot win in the T20 format. I felt I could have done better. Could I have done differently?" he added.
Jadeja went on to say that in order to establish the proper momentum during T20 matches, the captain must constantly switch up the batting order.
"A few days, I thought, but then I realized that when batsmen and bowlers don't contribute, then everything looks negative. If you perform well, then everything looks well. This change worked. In the T20 format, batting order needs to be shuffled," said Jadeja.
In IPL 2025, CSK finished in the bottom spot. Ravindra Jadeja made 301 runs in 14 matches with 2 fifties and took 10 wickets as well with a best of 2/17.
