Jadeja-Samson trade is through; RR walk away with a sweetheart deal

An old maxim in business says a fair deal is one where both parties feel they gave up a little more than they should have, yet gained enough to move forward. In the Chennai Super Kings-Rajasthan Royals trade, however, the Royals have emerged as clear winners in what may be the biggest trade in IPL history.

The Super Kings parted with an additional player—Sam Curran, valued at ₹2.4 crore—along with Ravindra Jadeja, whose price tag of ₹18 crore matches Sanju Samson's league fee. Jadeja is arguably the best all-rounder in India and world cricket, a status that cannot be claimed for Samson in terms of performance, profile, or stature.

One IPL CEO called it a "sweetheart deal" for the Royals, expressing shock that a franchise player and star performer like Jadeja was let go so easily. With MS Dhoni nearing retirement, Jadeja was seen as the face of CSK after him. "Once MS is done, does the team have a representative face?" the anonymous CEO remarked.

The trade, which had hit a technical snag due to the Royals' lack of an available overseas slot, has now been cleared by the BCCI. An official announcement is expected on November 15.

Jadeja, bought by CSK through a secret bid in 2012—believed to be a record price then—more than lived up to expectations, winning several matches for the franchise. His iconic six and four off the last two balls in the 2023 final, followed by an embrace with Dhoni, remains a heart-warming IPL memory. Known to fans as Thala (Dhoni) and Thalapathy (Jadeja), their partnership seemed unbreakable, but they have now parted ways.

Cricbuzz understands that Jadeja and CSK spoke before the trade and both agreed the move is in everyone's best interest. At 36, Jadeja has retired from T20Is and is unlikely to be considered for ODIs for India. With Noor Ahmad in the squad, there were concerns Jadeja might be dropped from the XI—a situation he would not prefer. Additionally, Chepauk Stadium is no longer the spin-friendly venue it once was.

Jadeja had differences with CSK in 2022 when he was briefly made captain, but this time the parting is said to be cordial. In 185 IPL matches for CSK, he scored 2000 runs and took over 140 wickets with an economy under eight. He also featured in 14 CLT20 games for the franchise.

He now returns to Rajasthan Royals, where he was banned for one year in 2010 for alleged negotiations with another team. He played for the Royals in the first two seasons before the suspension. While there's no guarantee he will be made captain, he is expected to enjoy the status of a respected senior player—a privilege held by Dhoni at CSK.

What CSK gains by trading their second-most popular player remains a riddle. It has emerged that CSK pursued Samson for three years, finally securing an Indian wicketkeeper-top-order batter and India T20I opener.

Samson is highly respected across IPL circles, with several franchises previously exploring negotiations with the Royals. However, his record at Chepauk is poor: 59 runs in five innings, averaging 11.8 with a strike rate of 100. Are these numbers worth sacrificing a box-office star like Jadeja for?