CSK CEO Claims Trading Jadeja and Curran for Samson a ‘Tough Call’

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) rounded off a headline player trade before the IPL 2026 mini-auction slated for mid-December 2025. CSK’s executives decided to send Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in exchange for wicketkeeper Sanju Samson.

CSK’s Top Brass Claim Letting Two Key Players Leave a “Tough Decision”

RR fans were left fuming by their franchise’s decision, as several bases argue Samson is an invaluable player to their future plans. However, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has come out to say letting two players like Jadeja and Curran leave the franchise was a tough decision:  

“Sam Curran was with us in 2020, 2021 and 2025. He has been a Consistent performer for us. As I said earlier, leaving out Sam as well as Jaddu was one of the toughest calls. We have certain players who are at the fag end of their career. And it is very important for CSK to build a team in the next couple of years. And since this is a mini auction, we don’t have the opportunity to get the best of the Indian batsmen,” the CSK exec said during a recent interview.

CSK CEO Says Franchise Rarely Trades Players

Mr. Viswanathan said that the decision to trade Curran and Jadeja for Samson was a tough call his side does not often take before auctions:

“Chennai Super Kings, as you know, have traded Jadeja and Sam Curran for Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals. As a franchise, you might know that over the years, we have not used the path of trading, except for one year when we got Robin Uthappa,” the CEO said.  

Why Did CSK Decide to Trade Two Players for Sanju Samson?

CSK’s CEO says his franchise needed a top-order batsman to drive their 2026 campaign. He believes few Indian batsmen will be available at auction, and the smartest choice was a 2-for-1 swap:

“The team management felt the need for a top-order Indian batsman. And since not many Indian batsmen are going to be available at the auction, we thought the best way to get an Indian top-order batter is to go through the trade window,” the exec added during this interview.

CSK CEO Claims Jadeja and Curran Okayed Trade Decision before Swap Deal

The Chepauk top administrator claims both players gave their greenlight before CSK initiated a swap deal for Samson:

“It is a must that we should consult with the players concerned. And it was after mutual agreement that we under took this. When I spoke to Jadeja, he was also very clear that if there is an opportunity for him because he is also, he also felt that he was at the fag end of his career in white ball. So, he also felt that he can have a break,” the CSK exec said.

Viswanathan Heaps Praise on Samson, Expects a Successful CSK Career for the WK

Sanju Samson ranks high among sought-after wicketkeepers in the current IPL roster. CSK’s CEO believes his consistency in recent years will be a positive addition to his franchise’s ranks from next season:  

“Sanju has been one of the most experienced IPL batsmen, having scored more than 4,500 runs. And he has also been leading Rajasthan Royals. He has the experience and he is only around 30 years. So, we thought that he will be a good addition for CSK to take care of the future,” Mr. Viswanathan added.

Full Player Transfer List of All IPL Franchises before 2026 Auction

Full List of Retained/Released Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Players

Retained

Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, MS Dhoni, Urvil Patel, Shivam Dube

All-rounders: Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjanpreet Singh, Shreyas Gopal

Bowlers: Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmad, Nathan Ellis, Mukesh Choudhary

Released

Batters: Rahul Tripathi, Vansh Bedi, Devon Conway, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Shaik Rasheed

All-rounders: Andre Siddharth, Rachin Ravindra

Bowlers: Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Matheesha Pathirana