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

  Sanju Samson moves to CSK in major leadership shake-up

 

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