Ravindra Jadeja to bid adieu, CSK set to welcome Sanju Samson; Trade deal 48 hours away from completion: Report

Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals are negotiating a player swap involving Jadeja, Curran, and Samson. The deal is pending BCCI approval.

The Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals are reportedly in advanced talks over a sensational player swap involving Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Sanju Samson. However, the deal remains held up due to regulatory procedures. While the framework has been agreed upon, the trade cannot be finalised until the BCCI completes its formal approval process.

Ravindra Jadeja for CSK and Sanju Samson for RR. (ANI and IPL)

According to a Cricbuzz report, the proposed exchange has now reached the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage under IPL Player Regulations. This means the mandatory 48-hour processing window has begun, even though an official confirmation has yet to be made.

Latest update on the trade

CSK and RR have secured consent from all three players, with a franchise official confirming that “all three have signed on the dotted line” and that the process “will take some time to culminate.” Although the EOI has been submitted, as of Monday evening, neither franchise had officially informed the IPL or BCCI leadership, with a senior board official stating that the matter had not yet reached their desk.

Under IPL trade regulations, any franchise wishing to initiate a deal must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the BCCI. The board then contacts the other franchise involved, which has 48 hours to respond. If the current team agrees to negotiate, the player’s consent is formally obtained, allowing discussions on the terms of the trade — including any revisions to contract value — within the approved framework. Only after this entire process is completed and sanctioned by the BCCI can the trade be officially finalised.

An additional layer exists in this case because Sam Curran is an overseas player. A No Objection Certificate from the England and Wales Cricket Board may be required before the move can be cleared, in line with IPL rules governing foreign cricketers shifting franchises.

The financial stakes underscore the magnitude of this swap. Jadeja and Samson are both INR 18 cr retentions for CSK and RR, respectively, while Curran was an INR 2.4 cr buy at the last mega auction. Notably, the Royals had initially asked for Dewald Brevis and then Matheesha Pathirana from CSK, but once those names were rejected, Curran emerged as the immediate name in the package alongside Jadeja.

Unsurprisingly, the prospect of Jadeja leaving Chennai has polarised the IPL ecosystem. CSK legend Suresh Raina has publicly urged the franchise to rethink, declaring that Jadeja “should be retained again”, calling him “a gun player for CSK” who “has to be there” for the franchise going forward. For now, everything hinges on how quickly the paperwork clears the BCCI’s desk.