IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals request for key CSK player to ensure the success of Sanju Samson-Ravindra Jadeja trade deal

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The ongoing negotiations between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have intensified into a high-stakes transfer saga, centering on a player swap that could reshape the futures of two major franchises and several star players.

As per the Indian Express report, the main part of the deal is CSK’s urgent need for a long-term wicketkeeper-batter, a successor to the 44-year-old MS Dhoni, leading them to pursue RR captain Sanju Samson. This pursuit has necessitated CSK’s willingness to part with two established players, including the club legend, Ravindra Jadeja. However, the deal faces a final complication as RR pushes for a third player, setting a tense deadline for the completion of one of the most significant trade moves in IPL history.

The ambition of the CSK to acquire Samson stems directly from the imminent retirement of Dhoni, forcing the franchise to seek an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman capable of stepping into the massive void left by the former captain.

The report further stated that Samson, who has captained the Rajasthan since 2021, made it clear to the RR management that he wished to end his seven-year association with the franchise, naming CSK as his preferred destination, a desire that was known to the Chennai management since his meeting with them during the Major League Season in the US. This urgency on CSK’s part necessitated the difficult decision to engage in a player-swap deal, a type of transaction the five-time champions had never done before, as they initially preferred an all-cash transfer.

The report also added that the most striking element of the negotiations is the agreement to release Jadeja, who holds a INR 18 crore retention price and achieved cult status in Chennai with his 2023 title-winning boundary; his move was formalized only after the CSK top brass, including Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Stephen Fleming, held lengthy discussions with the all-rounder to gauge his interest, receiving his consent before proceeding further. This willingness to sacrifice a high-value, fan-favorite champion underscores the desperation of the franchise to secure a long-term leader and keeper in Samson, even at the cost of immediate popular sentiment, fundamentally altering the team’s balance and identity.

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The trade deal, though built on the foundation of Samson for Jadeja, hit a significant snag over the identity of the second player offered by CSK, creating a dramatic holdout from the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the retention deadline. After securing the high-profile Indian spinner Jadeja, the Royals, who also secured an INR 18 crore valuation for Samson, pushed for another player to balance the ledger, initially floating the name of Indian all-rounder Shivam Dube, a request that was promptly rejected by Chennai.

The Indian Express report also mentioned that CSK quickly offered English all-rounder Sam Curran as an alternative, but the 2008 champions were reportedly ‘not fully satisfied’ with this part of the deal, clearly indicating they have their sights set higher. The Royals then intensified the complication by pushing hard for young Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, whom CSK has been diligently “grooming for long” and expects to play a major role in the coming seasons, making them unwilling to release him.

This impasse means that the successful completion of the trade hinges entirely on whether RR accepts Curran or insists on Pathirana, risking the collapse of the entire deal over this final asset. The trade will not only end Jadeja’s long tenure with CSK since 2012 but will also conclude Samson’s long association with RR since 2013, making the final outcome one of the most significant administrative decisions in the history of the IPL.

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