CSK Confirms Sanju Samson’s Trade From RR! All the Details Explained

Sanju Samson's transfer to CSK makes it his fourth IPL franchise, following his previous stints with KKR, RR and DC.

CSK Confirms Sanju Samson’s Trade From RR! All the Details Explained

Sanju Samson has moved to Chennai Super Kings in a trade deal from Rajasthan Royals, for INR 18 crores. (via NDTV Sports)

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Ending months of speculation, ace Indian opener Sanju Samson has finally joined Chennai Super Kings in a blockbuster trade deal from Rajasthan Royals, ahead of the 2026 IPL season. Both teams finalized a player swap, with Samson heading to CSK in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. 

Sanju Samson is a seasoned IPL campaigner, having scored over 4,700 runs in 177 matches at a decent average of 30.95 and a strike rate of 140.39, including three hundreds and 26 fifties. The 31-year-old was, most recently, a part of the India’s 2025 Asia Cup-winning squad, and has scored 995 runs in the shortest format internationally, at an average of 25.51, even hitting three hundreds in a year. 

After being acquired by Rajasthan Royals in 2013, Sanju Samson finished as the season’s Emerging Player with 206 runs in just ten matches. He continued his ascent, and and was appointed RR’s captain in 2021, guiding the team to the final in the very next season, in 2022. After 11 seasons with the Jaipur-based franchise, Samson, at the end of the 2025 season, indicated that he wished to be released. 

Samson’s desire to look for a new IPL side might have been fueled by the emergence of 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, as a result of which he lost his opener’s position at Rajasthan Royals. With his move to Chennai now finalized in an all-cash trade deal, where the five-time IPL winners will pay a whopping INR 18 crores, he is set to offer a long-term upside as an opener and a successor to MS Dhoni, as a keeper. 

Samson, who spent 11 years at RR, also set for a potential leadership role at his new franchise. To facilitate his move to the franchise, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja had to be traded the other way, for a fee of INR 14 crores.

The 36-year-old’s departure comes as a surprise, given his centrality in CSK’s identity, as well as his contributions in three title-winning campaigns since 2012, including his role in the unforgettable 2023 IPL final victory over Gujarat Titans. 

Meanwhile, Jadeja’s return also marks an emotional homecoming for the all-rounder to a franchise, where he kick-started his IPL journey, back in 2008. Alongside Jadeja, CSK have also traded Englishman Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals for INR 2.4 crores.

Mega IPL trades: Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami Feature in major shake-up

Ahead of the 2026 IPL auction next month, franchises have already announced their list of players, retained or released for the upcoming season. A number of high-profile trade deals have remained in the headlines, including Sanju Samson move’s to CSK, in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja.

IPL trade deal Samson, Jadeja, Shami
Sanju Samson to CSK, Ravindra Jadeja to RR, and Mohammed Shami to LSG, are the biggest trade deals of IPL 2026. (via X)

Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami, who endured a disappointing 2025 IPL campaign with Sunrisers Hyderabad, secured a move away from the franchise, to Lucknow Super Giants in an all-cash deal worth INR 10 crores. Another veteran Indian bowler, Shardul Thakur was traded to Mumbai Indians in an all-cash deal as well, for INR 2 crores, while Arjun Tendulkar moved from MI to LSG.

MI were busy in the trade market, as they also acquired West Indies’ all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford from Gujarat Titans for INR 2.6 crores. They also added spinner Mayank Markande to their squad, in a trade deal from Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 30 lakhs. IPL veteran Nitish Rana joined Delhi Capitals in a deal worth INR 4.2 crores from RR, while Donovan Ferreira moved the other way, for INR 1 crores. 

With the list of retained players by the ten IPL franchises already announced, several high-profile names remain out. Players like Glenn Maxwell, Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, David Miller, Faf du Plessis, Liam Livingstone, and others, have been released by their respective franchises.

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