Ravindra Jadeja was forced to retire hurt during Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans in New Chandigarh on May 29, 2026, after giving the innings early momentum and then walking off before the ninth over. The 37-year-old had been promoted to No. 4 and had made 34 from 19 balls when he left the field after receiving treatment in the previous over.
That mattered immediately because Royals were about to lose one of their best all-round options in a playoff match where every over carried weight. Jadeja had been used higher up the order, and for a brief stretch he looked set to shape the game with the bat before the injury halted him.
He had already been a fitness concern for Rajasthan Royals earlier in the season, having missed matches with an elbow injury. Commentary during the match described it as a tennis elbow injury, the same issue that had raised doubts over how much he could contribute across the season. His departure on Thursday was more than a batting setback; it threatened Royals’ control of the second innings as well, with the team set to miss his services with the ball.
That leaves Rajasthan Royals with an immediate problem and a larger one that goes beyond this match. The question now is not just whether they can cover his overs against Gujarat Titans, but how much the elbow issue has managed to limit Jadeja at the sharpest point of the season. For a side in a qualifier, that is the kind of absence that can tilt the night.
