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Ravindra Jadeja has finally opened up why he had to leave Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captaincy mid-season three years ago in IPL 2022. This event strained his long-standing relationship with the franchise and sparked concerns that he might leave the team.
Jadeja took over as CSK captain from MS Dhoni ahead of the 2022 season. However, CSK had a nightmarish start, losing their first four matches. Jadeja was eventually relieved of his duties after eight games, with the team securing only two wins. MS Dhoni stepped back into the captaincy role, and CSK ultimately finished ninth in the table with just four wins that season.
Ravindra Jadeja on why he had to leave CSK captaincy in IPL 2022
Despite significant speculation that Jadeja would be released or traded before the 2023 season, he was retained by CSK. He then became the hero of the final in the next season, playing a pivotal role as CSK lifted their fifth IPL trophy. Jadeja has largely remained silent about the incident, but he recently admitted to reflecting on what he could have done differently, ultimately accepting that a captain's influence is limited when the team isn't performing well.
"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 you are team is not doing well then all the blame falls on the captaincy. Thinking, bowling changes, fielding chances. Unluckily, the team was not doing well. If we were winning and everyone was contributing, then it was not rocket science. Sometimes, normal things work, but when your players, batters and bowlers don't contribute, you cannot win in the T20 format," Jadeja said during a conversation on R Ashwin's YouTube channel.
"I felt I could have done better, could I have done differently. A few days I thought, but then I realised 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," he further added.
The star all-rounder was recently asked by Ashwin about Shubman Gill being appointed captain of the Indian Test team.
"Yes. Yes. I know all captain's mindset. Every captain has a different mindset. I have played under Mahi Bhai (MS Dhoni) in all formats. He has a very simple mindset. He keeps fielders where a fielder is not there. I have understood that. Test format is like that you have to just chance two fielders that to according to bowler not batter. I feel Test captaincy is different. It's simple. You have to think about when a bowler is in rhythm. It is a bit calculative but it is not like T20 or IPL. In T20, every ball is an event. Test format is not that hectic. I have experience as you said. I have played under so many captains. In tests, you do not have to shuffle batting order or look at left-right combination," stated Jadeja.
After signing off IPL 2025, where CSK finished tenth in the points table, Jadeja will next be seen in action in the upcoming Test series against England which is slated to start from June 20
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