![Shane Warne called Ravindra Jadeja 'a Rockstar' [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1763291688666_Ravindra_Jadeja (1).jpg)
Shane Warne called Ravindra Jadeja 'a Rockstar' [Source: AFP]
On Saturday, Rajasthan Royals (RR) recently made a major move ahead of the IPL 2026 season by announcing a high-profile trade. Sanju Samson will be leaving the Royals to join Chennai Super Kings, while Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran will move to Rajasthan.
For Jadeja, this transfer is more than just a professional switch, it is an emotional return to the team with which his IPL story began.
Notably, in 2008, during the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League, the Rajasthan Royals won the title under the leadership of Shane Warne. A young Ravindra Jadeja was one of the brightest talents discovered that season, and he played an important role in the team’s success.
Why Shane Warne called Ravindra Jadeja a 'Rockstar'
Jadeja has often spoken about how Warne supported and encouraged him during those early days. One of the most memorable things Warne did was give Jadeja the nickname “rockstar.” At the time, Jadeja had no idea what the word meant. Notably, as he returns to the franchise, his nickname has started to resurface.
When Warne repeatedly called him a “rockstar,” Jadeja was puzzled, wondering why he was being compared to someone from the music world. In 2017, the former CSK star revealed the reason.
“Then I didn’t know what rockstar meant. When I met Shane Warne for the first time, I didn’t know he was such a great bowler in Test cricket. He used to call me ‘rockstar’, and I used to wonder that I don’t sing any songs, nor do I do anything that I deserved to be called a rockstar,” Jadeja said.
Later, he revealed that a friend jokingly told him that Warne might have used the nickname because Jadeja wore a lot of zinc cream on his face, giving him a flashy appearance.
“I just asked one of my friends why he is calling me a rockstar. He said that maybe because you put too much of zinc on your face (smiles)... I kept working hard on my game and kept improving my skills, whether it was bowling or batting.”
Despite the confusion, Jadeja took Warne’s words as motivation. He continued to work hard on both his batting and bowling, gradually becoming one of the most complete all-rounders in world.
It is worth noting that his return to the Royals, 17 years after his debut season, shows how far he has come. The financial details of the trade have also been finalised. Jadeja will now earn ₹14 crore with Rajasthan Royals, which is lower than the ₹18 crore he received at CSK.
On the other hand, Sanju Samson, on the other hand, will join CSK on his existing salary of ₹18 crore. Sam Curran will also be seen wearing the Royals’ pink jersey next season.
