In the third match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja etched his name further into the record books. Representing Rajasthan Royals (RR) against his former franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Guwahati, Jadeja delivered a clinical bowling performance to overtake the legendary Lasith Malinga in the list of all-time leading wicket-takers in the league.
Jadeja Reaches New Milestone
With the wickets of Shivam Dube and Sarfaraz Khan during the match, Ravindra Jadeja has now moved to the ninth position in the list of highest wicket-takers in IPL history. 26. This feat saw him surpass the long-standing record of Sri Lankan great Lasith Malinga, who finished his IPL career with 170 wickets. Jadeja’s consistency over the years, including a five-wicket haul, has solidified his status as one of the most effective spinners in the tournament.
The High-Profile Trade and Return to Rajasthan
The 2026 season marks a significant homecoming for Ravindra Jadeja. He was an integral part of the Rajasthan Royals squad that won the inaugural IPL title in 2008. After a decade-long successful stint with Chennai Super Kings, where he contributed to multiple title victories under MS Dhoni, Jadeja returned to the Royals in a high-profile pre-season trade. The deal involved Sanju Samson moving to CSK, while Jadeja and Sam Curran joined the Rajasthan camp, reshaping the dynamics of both teams for the current season.
Match Summary: CSK vs RR in Guwahati
The match itself was a dominant display by Rajasthan Royals, while opting to bowl first, the RR bowling attack, led by Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, and Ravindra Jadeja, dismantled the CSK batting lineup. Chennai found themselves in deep trouble at 57/6 within the first half of their innings. A resilient 43-run knock from Jamie Overton, supported by brief contributions from Kartik Sharma (18) and Sarfaraz Khan (17), allowed CSK to reach a total of 127 runs in their allotted 20 over.
Rajasthan Royals' Dominant Chase
Chasing a modest target of 128, Rajasthan Royals' openers provided an explosive start. Young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi played a blistering innings, scoring 52 runs off just 17 deliveries, laced with 4 boundaries and 5 sixes. His aggressive approach took the game away from CSK in the powerplay itself. Yashasvi Jaiswal played a steady hand at the other end, remaining unbeaten on 38. The duo shared a 75-run opening stand, ensuring an easy 8-wicket victory for the Royals with plenty of overs to spare.
Current Standings in All-Time Wicket Takers
Following Jadeja's ascent to the ninth spot, the leaderboard for the most wickets in IPL history continues to be led by Yuzvendra Chahal with 221 wickets. He's followed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar (198), Sunil Narine (192), Piyush Chawla (192), and Ravichandran Ashwin (187). Jasprit Bumrah and Dwayne Bravo share the sixth spot with 183 wickets each, while Amit Mishra remains in eighth place with 174 wickets. Jadeja's current tally of 172 puts him within reach of further climbing the ladder as the season progresses.