IPL – RR likely to trade Samson for Jadeja

Chennai Super Kings is inching closer to a deal with Rajasthan Royals to secure the services of Sanju Samson. In exchange, CSK will give up its former captain and one of its star players, Ravindra Jadeja, who started his IPL career at the Royals. Incidentally, both players were retained by their respective franchises ahead of the mega auction last year.

After finishing at the bottom of the standings in the 2025 season, in which they won just four games, the Super Kings are expected to make significant changes to their squad for the following year.

The five-time champion’s main issue was a lack of firepower in its batting unit, and getting Samson is a key piece of the puzzle to solve that issue.

However, it is understood that the Royals have demanded one more player as part of the deal to let go of Samson. Though CSK’s first preference is a straight swap between the two players, both in the ₹18 crore bracket, the five-time champion has not shut the door on giving up one more player.

Jadeja burst onto the scene in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 and played a key role in the Rajasthan side’s title win that year.

The all-rounder joined CSK in 2012 for $2 million and has played a key role in the Men in Yellow’s triumphs in 2018, 2021 and famously in 2023 when he scored 10 off the last two deliveries against the Gujarat Titans.

Samson joined RR in 2013 and remained there until 2015, before returning in 2018 after a two-year stint with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). He has been the skipper since 2021 and led the side to the finals in 2022.