In a landmark trade in Indian Premier League (IPL) history, star Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson, a longtime pillar of the Rajasthan Royals (RR), has been swapped to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the five-time champions. In exchange, RR acquires CSK stalwarts Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
Samson will join CSK for the upcoming season at his current price of Rs180 million, while Jadeja’s fee has been adjusted from Rs180 million to Rs140 million. Curran transitions to RR at his existing rate of Rs24 million, according to the league’s announcement.
Having joined RR in 2013, Samson quickly became a cornerstone, retained for the 2014 season at just 19. Following RR’s two-year suspension (2016-17), he returned in 2018, assuming captaincy in 2021. Under his leadership and the guidance of director Kumar Sangakkara, RR reached the IPL final in 2022, their first since their inaugural 2008 victory.
Samson captained RR in 67 matches, with an even record of 33 wins and losses. His peak IPL season was 2024, amassing 531 runs at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.47, with five half-centuries. Despite being retained for Rs180 million for 2025, an injury cut his season short, and RR finished ninth. That year, he scored 285 runs in nine innings, averaging over 35 with a strike rate above 140 and one fifty.
Samson also played for Delhi Capitals (DC) during 2016-2017. He is RR’s all-time top scorer in IPL and Champions League T20, with 4,219 runs in 155 matches, including two centuries and 26 fifties, at an average of 31.96 and a strike rate above 140.
Meanwhile, Jadeja, who played for RR in 2008-09 and was part of their first title-winning team, represented CSK from 2012 to 2025, except for stints with Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011 and Gujarat Lions during CSK’s suspension (2016-17). Jadeja is CSK’s top wicket-taker with 143 wickets in 186 matches, with best figures of 5/16. He also leads in runs for CSK with 2,198 runs at an average of 28.54 and a strike rate over 136, including five fifties.
Retained for Rs180 million before the 2025 mega auction as CSK’s second choice after captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jadeja has played 254 IPL matches, the fifth-most in history. His standout moment was the 2023 IPL final, where his last-over performance secured the title for CSK. He took 20 wickets that season and scored 301 runs in 2025, with two fifties at an average of 33.54 and a strike rate of 135.58. Jadeja has won three IPL titles with CSK in 2018, 2021, and 2023, playing a key role in their successes.
Lastly, Sam Curran, 27, joins RR as his third IPL team, having played for Punjab Kings in 2019, 2023, and 2024, and CSK from 2020-21 and in 2025. Last season, he scored 114 runs in five innings with a top score of 88 and took one wicket. In his IPL career, Curran has 997 runs in 64 matches and 53 innings with an average of 24.92, including six fifties, and has taken 59 wickets at an average of 34.45.
