“Fans will be very, very upset” - CSK CEO reveals reason behind Jadeja-Samson trade ahead of IPL 2026 auction 

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanathan has revealed the reason behind the Ravindra Jadeja-Sanju Samson trade ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. On Saturday, November 15, the IPL announced that Jadeja (₹14 crore) and Sam Curran (₹2.4 crore) had been traded out, while Samson was acquired by CSK for ₹18 crore.

In a video shared on CSK’s official Instagram account, Viswanathan addressed the trade, explaining that the management wanted a top-order Indian batter, which prompted the move for Samson. He added that parting ways with Jadeja was an extremely difficult decision considering his decade-long contribution to the franchise. He said:

“Chennai Super Kings, as you know, have traded Jadeja and Sam Curran for Saju Samson from Rajasthan Royals. The team management felt the need of a top order Indian batsman and since not many Indian batsmen are going to be available at the auction, we thought that the best way to get an Indian top order batsman would be to go through the trade window.”

“And hence we had to take this call and this decision has been taken by the team management and it is a very tough decision, leaving out Jaddu who has been responsible for the success of CSK over the years. It was probably one of the toughest decisions the CSK had to take, as team management had to take. Considering the transition of the CSK at this point of time, the team management took the toughest decision,” he added.

Kasi Viswanathan continued:

“It is a must that we should consult the players concerned and it was after mutual agreement that we undertook this. See, when I spoke to Jadeja, he was also very clear that if there is an opportunity for him, because he also felt that he is in the far end of his career in white ball, so he also felt that he can have a break. See, emotionally the fans will be very, very upset because I have already got a lot of messages from the fans. But taking into account the current status of the team composition, the think tank of the CSK cricket management felt the need for change.”

Ravindra Jadeja featured in 186 IPL matches for CSK, scoring 2,198 runs at an average of 28.55 and a strike rate of 136.10, including five fifties. The left-arm spinner also picked up 143 wickets at an average of 28.33, a strike rate of 22.25, and an economy of 7.64. The all-rounder was part of CSK’s title-winning campaigns in the 2018, 2021, and 2023 seasons.

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“Good addition for CSK to take care of the future” - Kasi Viswanathan on Sanju Samson joining the five-time IPL champions

In the same video, Kasi Viswanathan also spoke about acquiring Sanju Samson, noting that he brings valuable experience and is a strong addition to the side for the future. He said:

“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."

The 31-year-old has played 177 matches, scoring 4,704 runs at an average of 30.94 and a strike rate of 139.04, including 26 fifties and three hundreds.