A blockbuster trade involving stalwarts Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson has hit major roadblocks, casting fresh uncertainty over two marquee franchises as they eye IPL 2026.
Trade talks between the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals had reportedly progressed with Jadeja going to Rajasthan and Samson coming to CSK, but the deal has stuck in a muddle of player quotas, budget constraints and strategic demands.
Why the Negotiation between CSK & RR Stalled?
At the heart of the impasse is the proposed inclusion of England all-rounder Sam Curran. While a direct swapping of Indian players might have been manageable, Rajasthan Royals’ current roster presents major hurdles to such an exchange.
They already possess the maximum allowed number of overseas players and have limited remaining purse funds, reportedly around ₹30 lakh, while Curran’s auction valuation was approximately ₹2.4 crore. These dual barriers of overseas-slot and budget constraints have effectively frozen the deal.
What makes this more interesting?
But beyond the structural hurdles, the trade holds emotional and strategic layers too. Jadeja started his IPL career with Rajasthan in 2008 and became a part of their title-winning squad.
For CSK, his loss would signal the end of an era he has been an integral part of the franchise for at least a decade. The Rajasthan deal for Jadeja and Curran would also come at the cost of releasing current overseas players to make way and free up large chunks of purse, signaling a serious re-build. The layers of legacy, roster planning, and finance make this far from being a simple swap.
How have CSK and RR fared so far in IPL 2025?
The Chennai Super Kings had one of the worst seasons in 2025, ending up at the bottom with only four wins from fourteen matches. Batting miserably, once getting all out for just 103/9, making it the worst home total ever.
Their power-play returns were the worst in the league, averaging under 8 runs per over early in innings. A spin-heavy bowling strategy did not click, and the team’s home fortress of Chepauk crumbled under pressure.
Rajasthan Royals fared a little better, yet they too fell short of playoff qualification with four wins, finishing 9th on the table.
Batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal with 559 runs, meanwhile, led the effort for Royals; the bowling department did not have a single bright star this time as no one could manage to take more than 11 wickets. Retention decisions, the departure of veterans and inconsistent overseas contributions were cited as major reasons for the campaign’s disappointments.
