“Did they make full use of his potential?” - Former CSK batter’s brutal statement after Ravindra Jadeja trade for IPL 2026

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Cheteshwar Pujara questioned the team's use of veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Notably, Jadeja, along with Sam Curran, was traded to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) for Sanju Samson ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.

Following Ravindra Jadeja's trade, Pujara made a brutal statement and reckoned that CSK did not make proper use of his potential in the 2025 season. The left-arm spinner did not bowl his full quota of overs in many games. He bowled just around 38 overs and picked up 10 wickets.

However, Pujara reflected that Jadeja would get to bowl all his overs at Rajasthan as their spinners did not do well in the previous season.

"Jadeja's role in CSK was defined. But did they make full use of potential? I feel they did not, as he was not bowling his quota of four overs in all matches. But in Rajasthan, I feel he will get his four overs in all matches. Their spinners did not bowl well, so Jadeja, being the Indian spinner, will bowl entire four overs," he said on Star Sports.

Ravindra Jadeja was traded to RR on a revised contract for a sum of ₹14 crore. He was retained by CSK for ₹18 crore ahead of the 2025 season.

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Ravindra Jadeja will hope for captaincy at RR, believes Pujara

Following his move to the Rajasthan Royals, Ravindra Jadeja will hope to lead the side, according to Cheteshwar Pujara. The former CSK batter reckoned that the all-rounder, being a senior player, would look at himself in a bigger role at RR.

However, it remains to be seen who the 2008 champions would pick as their captain for IPL 2026, with former skipper Sanju Samson traded out. Jadeja will be in contention with the likes of Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Dhruv Jurel for the role.

"One name that has not come here is Dhruv Jurel. He is also a captaincy material, a very good one. He is one more option whose name has not been taken. But with Ravindra Jadeja going there, he will have the hope that he will be made captain there and will look at himself in a bigger role," he said.

Notably, Jadeja began his IPL journey in 2008 with RR and won the title with them that season. Having last played for them in 2009, this move will mark his homecoming after 16 years.