‘Once a Royal, always a Royal’ – RR thanks Ravindra Jadeja after KKR’s defeat against CSK gives the Royals a lifeline for the IPL 2020 playoffs

Ravindra Jadeja was on top of his game on Thursday, October 29 against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Though the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already been eliminated from the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), they haven’t been down on spirit by any means. And it was Jadeja, who was instrumental in giving them their fifth win this season at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

CSK, like many other times in the tournament, found themselves in trouble. Chasing 173, the Yellow Army were cantering towards victory when Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ambati Rayudu were firing on all cylinders. But after both the batters perished in quick succession, the Super Kings kept digging a hole for themselves. In the last nine balls, CSK needed as many as 27 runs to get over the finishing line.

Ravindra Jadeja wreaks havoc

But then, Jadeja laid into Lockie Ferguson, who conceded two fours, a six and a waist-high full toss that fetched two runs apart from being a no-ball. In the last over, CSK needed 10 runs to win, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti gave away only three runs off the first four balls. Thereafter, Jadeja smashed a six over the deep mid-wicket region to bring the target down to a single off the final ball of the contest.

Jadeja finished things off in a grand way, smashing a six over the same region. The victory also meant that KKR’s fate isn’t in their own hands anymore as they are placed at the fifth spot in the points table. In the meantime, Rajasthan Royals (RR) thanked Jadeja for playing the match-winning hand.

The Royals took to Twitter and wrote, “Once a Royal, always a Royal.” Jadeja made his IPL debut for RR after he was drafted in following India’s win in the 2008 U19 World Cup. It was the same WC where Virat Kohli was the captain. KKR’s loss meant that the Royals are still in with a chance of making the IPL 2020 playoffs.

Jadeja then moved to the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala. In the 2012 IPL player auction, CSK secured his services. He was brought for INR 9.72 crores after a tie-breaker with another defunct team Deccan Chargers. From there on until now, Jadeja has been an integral member of the team.

Here’s the tweet:

Once a Royal, always a Royal. 🙌#CSKvKKR | #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/hj3wJAgxFg

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) October 29, 2020