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Rajasthan Royals (RR) got Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) openers out cheaply but weren't able to capitalise as the home side posted 216/6 on the board. The surprising part of the innings was that Riyan Parag didn’t give a single over to veteran left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja. After the first defeat of the season, Parag was asked why Jadeja’s services with the ball remained unused while Ishan Kishan and the middle order piled on runs. The skipper said it was because of match-ups because Kishan was batting in the middle.
“I felt we started really well. Probably could have done a few things here and there. Jaddu bhai, I don't know, just split second decision. Ishan was batting really well, so I didn't want to take that chance. Trusted Bishnoi with the overs. But I felt they were 30 over par for sure with the way the wicket was playing,” Parag said in the post-match presentation.
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No Jadeja after Kishan’s departure as well
Kishan went on to score 91 runs from 44 balls, featuring eight fours and six sixes. He was dismissed in the 14th over of the innings but not before a platform-setting 88-run partnership for the third wicket. Even after the 14th over, Parag didn’t hand the ball to Jadeja when the match-ups were in favour of the 37-year-old. As a result, in the last five overs, RR conceded 62 runs.
Jadeja’s left-arm spin underutilised in IPL 2026
RR's high-profile trade, Jadeja hasn't bowled his quota of overs even once in the season. Against his former franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK), he bowled three overs, conceded 18 runs and claimed two wickets. He went for 25 runs in two overs against Gujarat Titans (GT). In the rain-curtailed 11 overs per side game, Jadeja didn't bowl a single over. He was impressive against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), taking a wicket for 14 runs in two overs but didn't bowl a third. So far, he has bowled seven overs in IPL 2026, taking three wickets at an average of 19. His economy rate has been 8.14 runs per over.
Jadeja’s record against SRH
Jadeja has not been a wicket-taker against SRH. From 28 games, he has claimed 10 wickets at an average of 52.9. However, his economy rate against them is 7.33 which might have come in handy and restrict the total around 200.
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