IPL 2026: Samson joins CSK, Jadeja moves to RR in a blockbuster trade move
The batter, who has three IPL and three international centuries to his name, is seen as MS Dhoni's replacement in the squad, both as a leader and a wicketkeeper-batter.
The Indian Premier League witnessed one of its most dramatic pre-season shake-ups on Sunday as franchises confirmed a series of high-profile trades ahead of the IPL 2026 retention deadline. The headline swaps saw Ravindra Jadeja join Rajasthan Royals and Sanju Samson move to Chennai Super Kings, triggering a major reshaping of two of the league’s most recognisable squads.
Jadeja ends 12-year CSK stint; joins Royals at reduced fee
In a move that ends one of the longest player-team associations in IPL history, Ravindra Jadeja has parted ways with Chennai Super Kings after 12 seasons. The talismanic all-rounder will now play for Rajasthan Royals — the franchise where he first made his name in the IPL’s inaugural years.
His fee, however, has been revised from ₹18 crore to ₹14 crore, the IPL advisory confirmed.
“Jadeja, who played for CSK for 12 seasons, is among the most experienced players in the league, having played over 250 games,” the release stated.
The switch marks a homecoming of sorts for the 35-year-old, who now becomes a crucial piece in Royals’ leadership and balance heading into IPL 2026.
| Ravindra Jadeja batting & fielding stats in IPL | ||||||||||||
| Year | Mat | No | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT |
| Career | 254 | 81 | 3260 | 77* | 27.86 | 2503 | 130.24 | 0 | 5 | 240 | 117 | 109 |
| 2025 | 14 | 5 | 301 | 77* | 33.44 | 222 | 135.59 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 10 | 6 |
| 2024 | 14 | 5 | 267 | 57* | 44.5 | 187 | 142.78 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 8 | 6 |
| 2023 | 16 | 4 | 190 | 25* | 23.75 | 133 | 142.86 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| 2022 | 10 | 4 | 116 | 26* | 19.33 | 98 | 118.37 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| 2021 | 16 | 9 | 227 | 62* | 75.66 | 156 | 145.51 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 9 | 13 |
| 2020 | 14 | 6 | 232 | 50 | 46.4 | 135 | 171.85 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 11 | 5 |
| 2019 | 16 | 6 | 106 | 31* | 35.33 | 88 | 120.45 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 9 |
| 2018 | 16 | 5 | 89 | 27* | 17.8 | 74 | 120.27 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
| 2017 | 12 | 6 | 158 | 28 | 39.5 | 113 | 139.82 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 2 |
| 2016 | 15 | 6 | 191 | 36* | 21.22 | 178 | 107.3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 4 |
| 2015 | 17 | 5 | 132 | 24 | 18.85 | 126 | 104.76 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| 2014 | 16 | 5 | 146 | 36* | 29.2 | 110 | 132.72 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| 2013 | 18 | 6 | 201 | 38* | 25.12 | 135 | 148.88 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 6 | 6 |
| 2012 | 19 | 2 | 191 | 48 | 15.91 | 151 | 126.49 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 2 |
| 2011 | 14 | 3 | 283 | 47 | 31.44 | 228 | 124.12 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 14 | 1 |
| 2009 (RR) | 13 | 2 | 295 | 42 | 26.81 | 266 | 110.9 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 6 | 4 |
| 2008 (RR) | 14 | 2 | 135 | 36* | 19.28 | 103 | 131.06 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 7 |
| Ravindra Jadeja bowling stats | ||||||||||
| Year | Mat | Balls | Runs | WKTS | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
| Career | 254 | 4056 | 5188 | 170 | 5/16 | 30.52 | 7.67 | 23.86 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 14 | 227 | 324 | 10 | 2/17 | 32.4 | 8.56 | 22.7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 14 | 282 | 369 | 8 | 3/18 | 46.13 | 7.85 | 35.25 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 16 | 342 | 431 | 20 | 3/20 | 21.55 | 7.56 | 17.1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 10 | 198 | 248 | 5 | 3/39 | 49.6 | 7.52 | 39.6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 16 | 294 | 346 | 13 | 3/13 | 26.61 | 7.06 | 22.61 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 14 | 218 | 318 | 6 | 2/42 | 53 | 8.75 | 36.33 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 16 | 324 | 343 | 15 | 03/09/25 | 22.86 | 6.35 | 21.6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 16 | 246 | 303 | 11 | 3/18 | 27.54 | 7.39 | 22.36 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 12 | 228 | 349 | 5 | 2/28 | 69.8 | 9.18 | 45.6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 15 | 241 | 311 | 8 | 2/18 | 38.87 | 7.74 | 30.12 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 17 | 256 | 330 | 11 | 04/11/25 | 30 | 7.73 | 23.27 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | 16 | 326 | 443 | 19 | 04/12/25 | 23.31 | 8.15 | 17.15 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | 18 | 259 | 323 | 13 | 3/20 | 24.84 | 7.48 | 19.92 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 19 | 210 | 273 | 12 | 5/16 | 22.75 | 7.8 | 17.5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 | 14 | 252 | 305 | 8 | 2/25 | 38.12 | 7.26 | 31.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 13 | 140 | 151 | 6 | 3/15 | 25.16 | 6.47 | 23.33 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 14 | 13 | 21 | 0 | 0/0 | - | 9.69 | - | 0 | 0 |
In return, Chennai Super Kings have secured Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson, who will wear the yellow jersey from IPL 2026 onward at his current fee of ₹18 crore.
Samson led RR for four seasons and featured in 177 IPL matches, with CSK becoming only the third franchise of his career. Apart from brief stints in 2016 and 2017, he has been the defining face of the Royals since his debut in 2013.
His move marks a significant leadership and batting addition for CSK as they transition into a new era.
Sanju Samson IPL stats
| Year | Mat | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
| 2025 | 9 | 285 | 66 | 35.63 | 140.39 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 13 |
| 2024 | 16 | 531 | 86 | 48.27 | 153.47 | 0 | 5 | 48 | 24 |
| 2023 | 14 | 362 | 66* | 30.17 | 153.39 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 24 |
| 2022 | 17 | 458 | 55 | 28.63 | 146.79 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 26 |
| 2021 | 14 | 484 | 119 | 40.33 | 136.72 | 1 | 2 | 45 | 17 |
| 2020 | 14 | 375 | 85 | 28.84 | 158.89 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 26 |
| 2019 | 12 | 342 | 102* | 34.2 | 148.69 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 13 |
| 2018 | 15 | 441 | 92* | 31.5 | 137.81 | 0 | 3 | 30 | 19 |
| 2017 | 14 | 386 | 102 | 27.57 | 141.39 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 19 |
| 2016 | 14 | 291 | 60 | 26.45 | 112.35 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 8 |
| 2015 | 14 | 204 | 76 | 20.4 | 125.15 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 8 |
| 2014 | 13 | 339 | 74 | 26.07 | 124.17 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 17 |
| 2013 | 11 | 206 | 63 | 25.75 | 115.73 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 5 |
| Career | 177 | 4704 | 119 | 30.95 | 139.05 | 3 | 26 | 379 | 219 |
Will Sanju’s inclusion mean the end of the road for MS Dhoni?
While there has been no confirmation as to when MS Dhoni is going to call curtains on his IPL career, the former India skipper might finally put a full stop to his legendary CSK stint if the Sanju Samson experiment works.
Sanju’s inclusion will also raise questions about whether he will keep wickets for the Yellow Army in his inaugural season, as the CSK CEO confirmed MS will be playing IPL 2026. If he continues to play, he is likely to retain the role of wicketkeeper-batter in the squad. More to follow