The Jadeja-Curran-Samson trade: Where things stand and what's next

The Ravindra Jadeja-Sam Curran-Sanju Samson trade is on track, though not yet complete. Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals have initiated the process, and as per the IPL Player Regulations accessed by Cricbuzz, a trade takes 48 hours to be formalised. It may take a couple of days for the swap to be made official and completed.

Understandably, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is required to be involved, and as of Monday (November 10) evening, neither franchise had officially informed the IPL or BCCI authorities. A top official told Cricbuzz that the matter has not yet been brought to their notice – something an official from one of the two franchises also confirmed.

"Consent has been obtained from all three players and the Expression of Interest process has been initiated. All three have signed on the dotted line, but the process will take some time to culminate," a franchise official said. As per the rules, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required if a traded player happens to be an overseas cricketer. In this case, since one of the three players is Sam Curran, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) may need to be part of the process.

A team willing to start a trade is required to record an Expression of Interest and it has to be submitted to the BCCI, which will then correspond with the relevant franchises. The process takes 48 hours. Besides, the franchises are at liberty to renegotiate the price and there are relevant clauses on a trade with negotiated increase and negotiated decrease.

Both Jadeja and Samson were INR 18-crore retentions by their respective franchises, but in this case, Chennai Super Kings are trading two players – Jadeja and Curran, a Rs 2.4-crore buy in the last mega auction – for Samson. As first reported by Cricbuzz on November 9, there was initially a demand for Dewald Brevis from the Royals' side. After it was declined by the Super Kings, Curran came into the mix.

The Jadeja trade development appears to have divided the IPL ecosystem, triggering a range of opinions – none more striking than that of Suresh Raina, who has urged the CSK management not to part ways with Jadeja. "Ravindra Jadeja should be retained again. He is a gun player for CSK. He has done really, really well for the team over the years, so 'Sir Ravindra Jadeja' has to be there," Raina, himself a CSK legend, said.

Key IPL Trading Rules

• Players taken in a Player Auction may not be traded in respect of the Season immediately following such Player Auction
• If the Player being traded is an Overseas Player then the buying Franchisee will need to obtain an NOC from the relevant body
• Trading negotiations between franchises should be only with regard to the League Fee payable
• It is the responsibility of the buying Franchisee to ensure that the Player being traded is match fit
• There is no limit on the number of Players that a Franchisee may trade during any Trading Window
• BCCI will make the first release of information regarding player trading to the press
• A player can be traded only once for that particular Season

Expression of Interest Process

Franchisees may send a list of Players they wish to acquire via trade to BCCI as an Expression of Interest (EOI). BCCI then notifies the relevant franchisee, which has 48 hours to confirm interest. If confirmed, the Player must sign a Consent Form agreeing to the trade.

In the Consent Form, the Player agrees to sign a new Player Contract with any other Franchisee for his original League Fee plus the agreed Player Percentage of any Negotiated Increase. The selling Franchisee agrees to release the Player in return for the agreed Franchisee Percentage of the Negotiated Increase.

Trade with Negotiated Increase

If franchises agree on a Negotiated Increase, it is shared between the Player and selling franchisee as recorded in the Consent Form. The Player enters into a new contract with the buying franchisee with the new League Fee (original fee plus Player Percentage of Negotiated Increase). The buying franchisee pays the Franchisee Percentage of the Negotiated Increase to the selling franchisee.

Trade with Reduction in League Fee

If franchises agree to a reduction in League Fee (Negotiated Decrease), the buying franchisee receives this amount from the selling franchisee for one season only. However, the Player's contract with the buying franchisee maintains the original League Fee – ensuring the Player is no worse off financially. BCCI's approval is required for any trades with a Negotiated Decrease.

BCCI reserves the right to overturn trades and impose penalties if it discovers unusual or inappropriate circumstances.