NEW DELHI: The major IPL 2026 retention deal that had fans buzzing has finally been struck between the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, Cricbuzz reported.

In a blockbuster swap, Ravindra Jadeja is set to join the Rajasthan Royals while Sanju Samson will move to the Chennai Super Kings. According to the trade structure, CSK have offered Sam Curran – valued at Rs 2.4 crore – along with Jadeja, who carries a Rs 18 crore price tag. Samson’s league fee is identical to Jadeja’s, underscoring the scale of the exchange.

The BCCI has cleared the deal after ironing out initial technical concerns to the Royals’ overseas player quota. A formal announcement is expected on November 15.

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CSK up Jadeja via a secret bid in 2012 – a move widely regarded as a record-setter at the time. Since then, “Sir Jadeja” has more than justified the investment, delivering countless match-winning performances for the franchise. His legacy peaked in the 2023 final, where he sealed the title by smashing a six and a four off the last two balls, etching his name into CSK folklore.

It has now come to light that CSK have been eyeing Samson for nearly three years, and their long search for an Indian wicketkeeper who can anchor the top order has finally ended with the India T20I opener joining their ranks.

Samson commands immense respect across IPL circles, and multiple franchises had previously sounded out the Royals about a possible deal. But it is CSK who ultimately succeeded in securing his signature. Yet, his record at Chepauk doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Across five innings at the venue, Samson has managed just 59 runs – 29 (off 17) in 2015, 8 (off 10) in 2019, 0 (off 2) in 2023, 15 (off 19) in 2024, and 10 (off 11) later that same season. That translates to an average of 11.8 and a strike rate of 100.