New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) MD Kasi Viswanathan explained why the franchise has decided to make a tough call to trade Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) to get Sanju Samson on Saturday, November 15. The deal had been in the works for the last few weeks and was finally completed with Samson joining the Chennai-based franchise for Rs. 18 crore ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
Jadeja traded to RR for Rs 14 crore, and he leaves CSK as one of the legendary players. The all-rounder played 12 seasons with the Chennai-based franchise, winning three titles and captaining them during the 2022 season. Speaking in an official video released by CSK, Viswanathan said that the franchise needed a top-order batter, and they decided to use the trade window to get Samson.
“Hence, we have to take this call, and this decision has been taken by the team management, and it is a very tough decision leaving out Jaddu, who has been responsible for the success of CSK over the years,” said Viswanathan.
He also said that it was probably one of the toughest decisions CSK had to take as a team management, but they made the decision considering the transition in the franchise.
“When I spoke to Jadeja, he was also very clear that if there is an opportunity for him, because he’s also felt that he’s in the fag end of his career in white ball. So, he also felt that he can have a break,” said Viswanathan.
The CSK MD further added that the fans will be very upset, and they’ve already received messages from the fans, but the franchise’s cricket management felt that the change is needed. Jadeja has picked up 143 wickets and scored 2198 runs in 186 matches for CSK.
Shami joins LSG, Nitish Rana traded to DC
Sanju Samson has been traded to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), while Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran have joined the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Mohammed Shami has joined Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a Rs 10 crore deal, and Arjun Tendulkar also traded to Lucknow-based franchise from Mumbai Indians (MI) for Rs 30 lakh.
Nitish Rana will now represent Delhi Capitals (DC) after a successful trade from Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a Rs 4.2 crore deal. Mayank Markande has been traded to the Mumbai Indians (MI) from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). All-rounder Donavan Ferreira also joined RR from DC, and his fee has been revised from Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore.