New Delhi: Ravindra Jadeja was left out of the Rajasthan Royals playing XI for their IPL 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals due to a knee niggle, batting coach Vikram Rathour confirmed after the match. Jadeja’s absence had sparked speculation after RR captain Riyan Parag stated at the toss that the veteran all-rounder was rested as part of “workload management.” However, Rathour later clarified that the decision was taken as a precautionary measure. “He just had some niggle in his knee. They are trying to manage that. They felt that if we give him one more game break, it would be good for him,” Rathour said during the post-match presentation.
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Parag, who himself returned to the side after missing the previous match against Gujarat Titans with a hamstring injury, had earlier announced that debutant Ravi Singh replaced Jadeja in the playing XI. Shimron Hetmyer and Tushar Deshpande were also unavailable for the crucial encounter. The Royals eventually suffered a five-wicket defeat after failing to defend a target of 193 against Delhi Capitals, dealing a major blow to their playoff hopes. The loss pushed Rajasthan Royals from fifth to sixth place in the IPL standings, leaving their qualification chances hanging in the balance.
Despite concerns over his fitness, Jadeja remains a key member of India’s Test and ODI setup. India national cricket team is scheduled to face Afghanistan national cricket team in a one-off Test from June 6 to 10, followed by a three-match ODI series beginning June 14 after the IPL season concludes. It remains to be seen whether Jadeja will feature in both squads or be rested for one of the formats.
