The twist you didn’t see coming in the IPL multiverse
Think you know everything about Ravindra Jadeja’s IPL journey? Think again. Sure, we’ve seen him in yellow—flying across the field, conjuring magic with the ball, and finishing games with a calm swagger. But did you know that once upon a time, Jadeja was just one dotted line away from joining Chennai Super Kings’ biggest rivals—Mumbai Indians?
Yep, the man who became a Chennai cult hero almost donned the MI blue. What stopped it? A little twist of fate, a suspension, and one of IPL’s most underrated what-if moments.
Jadeja is a name that resonates through the lanes of Chepauk, but once upon a time, he was this close to joining their biggest rivals—the Mumbai Indians. After his heroics with the Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural season, MI came knocking in 2010. A fresh contract, a new jersey, a new chapter—everything seemed on track... until it wasn’t.
In 2010, Jadeja was riding high after two successful seasons with the Rajasthan Royals. However, instead of extending his contract or participating in the official IPL auction, he attempted to negotiate a direct deal with the Mumbai Indians—something that was strictly against IPL rules at the time.
Credit: @Ipl_scoop
Players were not allowed to engage in private deals outside the official process, and the IPL Governing Council frowned upon this backdoor attempt. The consequence? A one-year suspension from the league. No auction, no new team, and certainly no cricket. Jadeja spent the entire 2010 season watching from the sidelines—due to one misstep in the fine print.
Credit: ESPNcricinfo
When Jadeja returned to the IPL in 2011, many expected him to finally join MI or return to Rajasthan Royals. But no—he appeared in the most unexpected place: Kochi Tuskers Kerala! The team existed for just one season, and Jadeja made the most of it with quick runs and handy spells. Blink, and you’d miss that chapter—literally.
In 2012, destiny called, and Jadeja joined CSK. Since then, he has been a pillar of the team, winning games with both bat and ball. But wait—it wasn’t all smooth sailing. When CSK was banned in 2016 and 2017, Jadeja played for the Gujarat Lions. Yet, like a boomerang, he returned to yellow, where he truly belonged.
Credit: Sports Tak
So, the next time Jadeja dives, whirls, and twirls in CSK colours, just remember: it could have been blue.
