New Delhi: In a trade that has stunned the cricketing world, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have secured Rajasthan Royals’ long-time talisman Sanju Samson, while the Jaipur-based franchise has landed Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in return. The move marks one of the most dramatic squad overhauls in IPL history, reshaping the cores of both teams ahead of the next season.
According to the league’s announcement, Samson will turn out for CSK at his existing fee of ₹18 crore. Jadeja, meanwhile, moves to his former side with a revised remuneration of ₹14 crore, and Curran shifts to the Royals at the ₹2.4 crore he was last contracted for.
End of an Era for Rajasthan
Samson’s exit closes a defining chapter for RR. He first donned pink in 2013 as a teenager and steadily grew into the face of the franchise. Across 11 seasons, he became their most prolific run-scorer and, after the team’s return from suspension in 2018, eventually stepped into the captain’s role in 2021.
Under his leadership, RR reached the 2022 final—their first in 14 years—guided by the strategic support of Kumar Sangakkara. Samson led the side in 67 games, winning 33. His standout season came in 2024 when he piled up 531 runs at a blistering strike rate, only to be derailed by injury the following year. Before his mid-season exit in 2025, he still managed 285 runs from nine innings, maintaining a strike rate above 140.
Across the IPL and Champions League T20, Samson amassed 4,219 runs for RR—an all-time franchise record—highlighted by two centuries and 26 half-centuries.
Jadeja Returns to His Roots
For Jadeja, the trade marks an emotional homecoming. The all-rounder began his IPL journey with the Royals during their title-winning 2008 campaign before becoming a cornerstone of CSK from 2012 onward. Across his tenure with the Chennai side, he evolved into one of IPL’s most invaluable assets, becoming both their leading wicket-taker (143 wickets) and highest-scoring lower-order batter.
His legacy includes three championship medals with CSK and the unforgettable 2023 final, where he sealed victory with a last-ball flourish against Gujarat Titans. Even in 2025, Jadeja maintained his reputation, contributing 301 runs and continuing to be one of the league’s most reliable left-arm spinners.
The 254-match veteran now rejoins RR as one of the most seasoned all-rounders in the tournament’s history.
Curran Adds Firepower to Royals
Sam Curran, 27, makes RR his third IPL home after stints with Punjab Kings and CSK. Though his 2025 season for Chennai was quiet with the ball, he produced a high-impact 88 with the bat—his best IPL knock. In total, he has nearly 1,000 runs and 59 wickets in the league, marking him as a versatile asset for the Royals’ middle order and pace attack.
A Landscape-Altering Trade
The three-way move signals a bold reset from both franchises: CSK strengthens its batting core with Samson, a player capable of anchoring and accelerating at will, while the Royals receive a generational all-rounder in Jadeja and a dynamic utility player in Curran.
With the IPL’s next edition several months away, this blockbuster trade has already become the talk of the cricketing world—setting the stage for one of the most intriguing seasons in years.
