In one of the biggest business twists ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, talks between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have taken a dramatic turn. While RR captain Sanju Samson has shown keen interest in joining CSK, Ravindra Jadeja has refused to leave the franchise.
According to a report by RevSportz journalist Rohit Juglan, Chennai Super Kings had offered two potential names, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, to Rajasthan Royals as part of a player-exchange deal to bring Sanju Samson to their team.
Ravindra Jadeja stops exchange of CSK-RR players
However, Jadeja, who has been a key member of CSK for years, made it clear that he has no plans of moving to any other franchise. The journalist revealed that Ravindra Jadeja had already said “no” to CSK to move to Rajasthan Royals.
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Since Jadeja has “no interest in this trade deal”, the Indian all-rounder’s refusal has effectively closed the door on the idea of a player-to-player swap. Now, the only way for the five-time IPL champions to sign Samson is through a cash trade deal.
Ravindra Jadeja’s refusal leads CSK to pursue Sanju Samson in ₹18 crore cash deal
Sanju Samson, on the other hand, is reportedly “very interested” in a move to Chennai Super Kings. He wants to join CSK, and now he will have to pay ₹18 crore to the Royals to finalize the transfer.
If this deal goes through, it will be one of the most expensive deals in IPL history. Well, Samson’s desire to join CSK is not new, as he has long admired the calm and composed culture of the team under the leadership of MS Dhoni. Now it is almost certain that Samson is going to CSK at any cost.
Well, the cash investment of ₹18 crore will open up opportunities for RR to rebuild their middle order and bring in strong finishers for the next season. As things stand, the idea of swapping players is off the table, but both the franchises are continuously discussing an all-cash deal.
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Will Ravindra Jadeja join Rajasthan Royals again?
Notably, Ravindra Jadeja and Rajasthan Royals are not new to each other, as the Indian all-rounder played under Shane Warne and earned the nickname “Rockstar”. His fearless batting, fast fielding and clever spin made him a key player in their early success.
He made his IPL debut in 2008 after being signed for US$50K by the Jaipur-based franchise in the U19 players draft. Now, the 36-year-old remains one of the best all-rounders in the world due to his spin, electric fielding and ability to finish games with the bat.
If he ever returns to the Royals, it would be a powerful reunion, giving them a proven match-winner and a strong middle-order asset. However, Jadeja’s relationship with Chennai Super Kings runs deep, where he has developed into a leader and fan favourite.
His journey from a young talent to a modern IPL legend remains truly inspirational. He has already won six IPL titles and has scored 3260 runs in 254 matches so far.
