Ravindra Jadeja added another chapter to his celebrated career on Saturday when he became only the fourth cricketer to score more than 4000 runs and take more than 300 wickets in Test cricket. The milestone came during the second day of the first Test between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens.
Jadeja reached the landmark with a steady 27 off 45 balls in India’s first innings. The left hander has now scored 4017 runs from 88 Tests at an average close to 40 and has taken 338 wickets at 25.25.
The feat places him in a club previously reserved for Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Daniel Vettori. Kapil Dev finished with 5248 runs and 434 wickets, Botham with 5200 runs and 383 wickets and Vettori with 4531 runs and 362 wickets. Jadeja joins them in the company of players who shaped eras with both bat and ball.
For more than a decade, Ravindra Jadeja has been the heartbeat of India’s Test side. Teammates often speak of his ability to change the mood of a session with a sudden burst of wickets or a quick scoring cameo. One such memory that still circulates in the dressing room is his stubborn partnership with R Ashwin during the 2016 Chennai Test against England, when the pair chatted more about their favourite horses than the bowling attack in front of them. Senior players later recalled how Jadeja’s easy humour kept everyone loose on tense days.
There are also stories from his early years with the national team when he would bowl for long spells in the nets without complaint. Former coaches have said he never asked how many overs were left and preferred to focus on landing each ball on the same spot. Those habits followed him into international cricket and helped build the consistency that defined his rise.
Ravindra Jadeja will soon return to the Rajasthan Royals for the 2026 Indian Premier League season. The move marks a high-profile homecoming nearly 17 years after he first wore the Royals jersey as a raw teenager in 2008. Shane Warne famously called him a “rockstar” during that season and often told younger players that Jadeja would one day be among India’s most important cricketers. Several members of that title-winning squad still mention how Jadeja would sprint to every fielding drill even after a full training session.
After leaving the Royals following the 2009 season, Jadeja spent a stint with Kochi Tuskers in 2011 before joining Chennai Super Kings in 2012. His years with CSK brought multiple titles and a reputation as one of the most reliable all-rounders in the league.
His return to Jaipur comes through a trade that also sends Sanju Samson the other way. The all-rounder sounded emotional when the move was confirmed.
“Rajasthan Royals gave me my first platform and my first taste of victory,” Jadeja said. “Coming back feels special. It is not just a team for me. It is home. Rajasthan Royals is where I won my first IPL, and I hope to win more with this group.”
Saturday’s milestone at Eden Gardens added another layer to a career already filled with notable moments and memorable stories. Players like Jadeja do not often come by. They grow slowly, season after season, and then suddenly stand tall among the greats.
