Ravindra Jadeja Confirms Ranji Trophy Return, Dashes Retirement Rumours

India cricket's stalwart all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to make his return to domestic cricket, featuring in Saurashtra's upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Punjab at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on January 22.

Saurashtra's Ranji Trophy campaign has witnessed four successive draws before they burst out of it with an innings-and-47-run win over Goa in November 2025.

“Ravindra Jadeja called us and confirmed his availability for the team’s upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Punjab, scheduled to be played in Rajkot from January 22. I don’t know if he will play the matches after that, but he will definitely feature in the game against Punjab. I’m not sure what decision he will take after that match," said Saurashtra Cricket Association president Jaydev Shah, as quoted by IANS.

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“We have also learned that Shubman Gill will be coming to play in Rajkot for Punjab," he added.

Jadeja's Saurashtra teammates are currently floundering in the Elite Group's lower tier, with one victory and four draws from five matches, placing them fourth.

Saurashtra's upcoming competitions, Punjab sit sixth with a win and a loss from five games.

Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, who has shared a successful partnership with Jadeja in the Indian team, has advised Jadeja to venture beyond his comfort zone and experiment with his bowling.

Jadeja's scrabble continued in the recently completed ODI series against New Zealand, where he just managed to score 43 runs and failed to take a single wicket, which instantly drew sharp criticism for his poor all-round display.

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“See, it is a very challenging time for Jadeja. We all know that Axar Patel is right back on his heels. The fact is that Jadeja has done well in ODIs; he is also playing the Test format. But it isn't easy for Jadeja because it is more about his batting. Talks are emerging about his low strike rate against spinners. This is way too early on anybody's cricket or future,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“We have the T20 World Cup and the IPL after this. Remember that Jadeja will play the IPL. The performances there will lead to a decision. It is too early to decide on anybody,” he added.