Loading…

Ravindra Jadeja is one of the most iconic and influential cricketers to have played for India. Born on December 6, 1988 in Navagam-Khid, Gujarat, Jadeja has risen from humble beginnings to become a modern cricket legend.

Ravindra Jadeja is one of the most iconic and influential cricketers to have played for India. Born on December 6, 1988 in Navagam-Khid, Gujarat, Jadeja has risen from humble beginnings to become a modern cricket legend. Whether with bat, ball or on the field, Jadeja has consistently changed the course of a match with his tenacious and never-give-up attitude. Considered the best all-rounder, he is the only Indian and the eighth batsman in cricket history to have scored three first-class triple centuries.
A complete cricketer and a left-handed batsman, a left-arm orthodox bowler and perhaps the best fielder in world cricket. Jadeja possesses equal parts skill and passion. With a career spanning nearly two decades, he has been a pillar of India’s success across all formats.
Ravindrasinh Aniruddhasinh Jadeja was born to Lataben and Aniruddhasinh Jadeja and grew up in a modest family. His mother wanted him to become an army officer, while his father was a security guard. But young Jadeja’s passion for cricket shaped his destiny.
He began training seriously at the age of 8 when he joined the Nawanagar Cricket Academy in Jamnagar. Under the supervision of coach Mahendrasinh Chauhan, who sharpened Jadeja’s fitness and fielding. These skills made him one of the best fielders in cricket history.
Jadeja first gained national attention when he represented India in the 2006 Under-19 World Cup, taking three wickets in the final. Although India lost, he returned as vice-captain under Virat Kohli in 2008, and India won the tournament, defeating South Africa in the final.
Jadeja made his senior domestic debut in 2006, playing in both the Deodhar Trophy and Duleep Trophy that year. But his turning point came during the 2008–09 Ranji Trophy, where he scored 739 runs and took 42 wickets, earning him a place in the Indian team.
In 2012, while playing for Saurashtra against Railways, the 23-year-old Jadeja broke cricket records. He joined the likes of Don Bradman, W.G. Grace and Brian Lara in scoring his third first-class triple century. His triple century showcased his extraordinary stamina, temperament and dominance with the bat.
| Format | Debut | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| ODI | 8 Feb 2009 | Sri Lanka |
| T20I | 10 Feb 2009 | Sri Lanka |
| Test | 13 Dec 2012 | England |
Jadeja debuted against Sri Lanka in 2009, scoring a composed fifty. He made his T20I debut the same week, though his slow knock against England in the 2009 T20 World Cup drew criticism. Through support from captain MS Dhoni, Jadeja evolved, becoming one of India’s most trusted white-ball all-rounders.
His defining ODI moment came in 2013, when he helped India win the ICC Champions Trophy. In short, grabbing 2 wickets and scoring 33 runs in the final, earning the Player of the Match award. He featured in India’s 2015 & 2019 ODI World Cups.
Jadeja made his Test debut in 2012, and quickly established himself as a match-winner. In his performance against Australia in 2013, he took 24 wickets, including his first five-wicket haul. He also confirmed his status as a world-class player.
Since then, Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have become one of the greatest spin pairings in Test cricket. In 2017, the pair jointly topped the ICC Test bowling rankings, a rare feat.
In 2024, Jadeja became the second fastest player in Test history to complete 3000 runs and 300 wickets. He sealed his legacy among the greatest all-rounders of the game.
Jadeja made his IPL debut in 2008, signed by Rajasthan Royals for $30,000 and won the title in his first season. Shane Warne even called him a “superstar on the way”.
After a suspension in 2010 for breach of contract, Jadeja returned to Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011.
But his true IPL home was Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who bought him for $2 million as the highest bidder in the 2012 auction.
In 2022, Jadeja replaced MS Dhoni as CSK captain, but the pressure negatively affected his performance. After eight games, he handed over the leadership to Dhoni.
Jadeja’s most famous trademark moment is the sword celebration. There he swings the bat like a warrior after scoring a half-century or a century. Inspired by the Rajput military heritage, this celebration symbolizes:
This is now one of the most admirable phenomena in world cricket.
Ravindra Jadeja married Rivaba Jadeja (Solanki) on 17 April 2016. Rivaba is a politician and a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, representing the BJP. The couple has a daughter and is one of the most influential power-couples in Indian sports and politics.
| Category | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | ₹115-140 Crore ($14-17 million) |
| BCCI Salary | ₹7 Crore annually (Grade A contract) |
| IPL Earnings | ₹16 Crore per season (CSK) |
| Endorsements | ASICS, Ray-Ban, SWOTT, LifeBoy, etc. |
| Assets | Farmhouse, luxury vehicles, horses, restaurants |
Jadeja also owns a luxurious farmhouse in Jamnagar, known for keeping several horses as his favourite hobby.
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 89 | 133 | 26 | 4095 | 175* | 38.27 | 7389 | 55.42 | 6 | 28 | 398 | 82 | 49 | 0 |
| ODIs | 206 | 139 | 52 | 2862 | 87 | 32.89 | 3331 | 85.92 | 0 | 13 | 209 | 55 | 77 | 0 |
| T20Is | 74 | 41 | 17 | 515 | 46* | 21.45 | 405 | 127.16 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 14 | 28 | 0 |
| FC | 147 | 218 | 34 | 8284 | 331 | 45.02 | 14366 | 57.66 | 15 | 45 | 848 | 145 | 100 | 0 |
| List A | 259 | 183 | 64 | 3911 | 134 | 32.86 | 4489 | 87.12 | 2 | 18 | 285 | 82 | 99 | 0 |
| T20s | 346 | 252 | 101 | 3985 | 77* | 26.39 | 3046 | 130.82 | 0 | 5 | 296 | 141 | 141 | 0 |
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 89 | 167 | 20241 | 8741 | 348 | 7/42 | 10/110 | 25.11 | 2.59 | 58.1 | 17 | 15 | 3 |
| ODIs | 206 | 198 | 10212 | 8287 | 231 | 5/33 | 5/33 | 35.87 | 4.86 | 44.2 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| T20Is | 74 | 71 | 1356 | 1612 | 54 | 3/15 | 3/15 | 29.85 | 7.13 | 25.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 147 | 263 | 32894 | 14069 | 579 | 7/31 | 13/126 | 24.29 | 2.56 | 56.8 | 27 | 36 | 10 |
| List A | 259 | 246 | 12587 | 9978 | 292 | 5/33 | 5/33 | 34.17 | 4.75 | 43.1 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| T20s | 346 | 314 | 5702 | 7251 | 235 | 5/16 | 5/16 | 30.85 | 7.62 | 24.2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
From humble beginnings in Gujarat to global stardom, Ravindra Jadeja’s story is one of resilience, discipline and raw talent. He has excelled in every role, from finisher, strike bowler, middle-order stabiliser, electric fielder and leader. With historic achievements and unwavering passion, Jadeja continues to influence Indian cricket.
To fans around the world, Jadeja is much more than a cricketer; he is an era.
Read Next: Mitchell Marsh Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career
Hello readers! I am Riya Chandra, a content writer with over 3+ years of experience. I enjoy creating simple, clear and engaging sports content that helps readers understand cricket in an easy way. I love turning cricket moments into stories that everyone can enjoy. Did you like my articles? If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to comment. Thanks for reading!