The Rajasthan Royals are reportedly expected to give Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson in exchange for all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in one of the most prominent player deals in IPL history.
According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, all three players have been contacted by both teams, but neither team verified the information.
The IPL governing council must receive an expression of interest from both RR and CSK that names the three players involved in the transfer, the report added. According to the trading rules, the franchises may continue to negotiate a final agreement that will also be approved by the governing council after receiving the players’ written consent.
Both Samson and Jadeja have a long history with their respective franchises. With the exception of the two seasons in 2016 and 2017 when the teams were suspended, Jadeja has played for CSK since 2012, whereas Samson has represented RR for 11 seasons. Samson had expressed his desire for a change and to be let go by RR following the 2025 IPL.
Jadeja was the second player after captain Ruturaj Gaikwad to be retained by CSK before the 2025 mega auction for INR 18 crore. Jadeja has consistently been a part of their core, along with MS Dhoni and has been part of three of CSK’s five championship victories.
Jadeja’s batting heroics in the final over against Gujarat Titans were a major factor in CSK’s victory in the 2023 final. With 20 wickets at the end, it was also his best season with the ball. In 2025, he achieved the same feat with the bat, scoring 301 runs, including two fifties.
Jadeja began his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals as a 19-year-old and won the inaugural title with them in 2008. He represented RR in the first two seasons before being suspended in 2010 for attempting to negotiate a contract directly with Mumbai Indians. Following the ban, Jadeja turned out for Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011, and a year later, Chennai Super Kings secured his services for USD 2 million at the 2012 auction.
Samson was the youngest player retained at 19 before the 2014 season, following an outstanding first IPL season in 2013 in which RR finished third and second in the Champions League T20. Samson returned to the team in 2018 after RR was suspended for two years in 2016–17. After being named captain in 2021, he and RR’s team director, Kumar Sangakkara, guided the team to the IPL final for the first time since 2008 in 2022.
With 4027 runs, Samson is RR’s top run scorer. He also holds the joint-highest score (124), the most 50-plus scores (25), and the most catches (149). The team started trade negotiations with many teams after he told RR that he wanted to be released.
Sam Curran began his IPL career with Punjab Kings in 2019 and rejoined them in 2023, when he became the league’s most expensive player at INR 18.5 crore, and continued with them in 2024. In between, he represented Chennai Super Kings in 2020 and 2021. CSK bought him back for INR 2.4 crore ahead of the 2025 season, where he managed 114 runs and just one wicket in five matches.
