To be continued ... : Ravindra Jadeja reveals story behind 'gun' celebration vs CSK

Guwahati, Monday – Rajasthan Royals began IPL 2026 with a statement eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, and the night’s most vivid snapshot belonged to Ravindra Jadeja. After snapping up a CSK all-rounder, the left-arm spinner wheeled away, cocked an imaginary firearm and pulled the trigger – a celebration that lit up social media within seconds.

Speaking on JioStar’s post-match show, former India team-mates Suresh Raina and Anil Kumble asked whether the move was a fresh addition to Jadeja’s repertoire. “This is something I used to do when I played for CSK,” Jadeja smiled. “I thought, why not to be continued …”

The 37-year-old revealed the dismissal was no fluke. “I knew Dube looks to take spinners on from ball one. It was at the back of my mind that if he falls, CSK’s middle order becomes exposed. So I just kept telling myself to stay positive and hit the right spots,” he explained.

Jadeja, now in Royals pink after 12-13 seasons with the Super Kings, admitted the switch carried emotional weight. “I’m liking the pink colour. The yellow had started to feel a bit old – but I’m just joking,” he quipped, before turning serious. “Leaving CSK was difficult; it was very emotional. Yet changes are part of the journey. The good thing is I’m back where I won my first IPL title, so those memories are fresh again.”

Conditions at Barsapara suited him perfectly. “The wicket was a bit sticky; it held and gripped. My job was to land it on the right spot. When he hit me for a six, I went wider, fifth-sixth stump, so that if he moved across he wouldn’t time it. Luckily he didn’t get elevation and we got the big wicket,” Jadeja said.

His 2 for 18 helped restrict CSK to 127, after which Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s blazing fifty sealed the chase. Royals now travel to Ahmedabad to meet Gujarat Titans on 4 April, but Monday night belonged to Jadeja – nostalgia, new beginnings and a celebration that promises to stick around.