Lucknow
Ravindra Jadeja admitted that conditions were far from easy despite playing a match-winning role as Rajasthan Royals defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 40 runs in their Indian Premier League 2026 clash.
Reflecting on his composed 43 off 29 balls, Jadeja said the red-soil surface made stroke-making difficult due to variable bounce and seam movement. “When I was batting, it wasn’t that easy out there,” he noted, adding that building partnerships required patience and awareness. He emphasised the need to rotate strike while choosing the right moments to attack in T20 cricket.
Jadeja revealed a clear tactical approach during the death overs, particularly against express pacer Mayank Yadav. He said he capitalised on shorter boundaries and field placements to maximise scoring opportunities, ensuring Rajasthan posted a competitive 159/6 despite regular wickets.
In reply, Lucknow never found momentum and were bowled out for 119 in 18 overs. The Royals’ bowling unit delivered a disciplined performance, led by Jofra Archer (3/20) and Nandre Burger (2/27), while support came from Brijesh Sharma. Jadeja also contributed with a key wicket, dismissing Nicholas Pooran at a crucial stage.
Speaking about his bowling, Jadeja said he deliberately varied his pace on a two-paced wicket. He observed that batters like Mitchell Marsh and Pooran struggled against slower deliveries that held up on the surface. “It’s about reading conditions and adapting,” he explained, underlining his flexible role in the side.
Jadeja also addressed his bowling workload, stating that completing his full quota depended entirely on team requirements. Despite earlier matches where he did not bowl all four overs—even after impressive spells—he stressed that team success always comes first.
With this win, Rajasthan Royals climbed to second on the points table with 10 points from seven matches. They will next face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, aiming to build on their strong comeback.