"Maybe he was done with CSK" - Former India opener's massive take on Ravindra Jadeja agreeing to pay cut for IPL 2026

Former India opener Aakash Chopra offered an interesting take on Ravindra Jadeja agreeing to a pay cut for the IPL 2026 season. Jadeja was traded out from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to the Rajasthan Royals (RR). The deal also involved Sam Curran going from CSK to RR. Rajasthan traded out Sanju Samson to CSK.

Ravindra Jadeja was retained for ₹18 crore by CSK for IPL 2025. However, he was traded to RR for ₹14 crore this time around, taking a significant pay cut. Aakash Chopra questioned why Jadeja would have agreed to a pay cut and reckoned that he probably wanted to move out of CSK and was hence okay with the deal.

He also reflected on whether RR offered Jadeja captaincy, which led him to agree to being traded at a lesser fee.

"RR have got Jadeja but he has taken a pay cut. I am thinking he left CSK by taking a pay cut? Without a player's consent you cannot change their price. He has taken 4 crores less to leave Chennai and that is mind boggling. Why does someone take a pay cut? Maybe he was done with CSK and did not want to stay there. But he could have done that by going into the auction as well. Have RR offered him captaincy? Was that the incentive for which he has gone towards RR? It is very interesting. There has to be bit more to it," he said on his YouTube channel.

With Samson's exit, it remains to be seen who will lead RR in IPL 2026. Along with Jadeja, the likes of Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Dhurv Jurel are possible captaincy options for the franchise.

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SRH have to shop for bowlers during IPL 2026 auction, believes Aakash Chopra

Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra believed that 2016 champions SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) would have to look to acquire bowlers during the IPL 2026 auction. They released the likes of Mohammad Shami, Adam Zampa, Rahul Chahar, Wian Mulder, and Simarjeet Singh.

He reckoned that they required no changes in the batting line-up, having retained the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen, among others.

"SRH have released a lot of players so they will have to do something with the bowling. Their batting is alright and there is no need for change there. They have to shop for bowling and they have the money," he said.

SRH will head into the IPL 2026 auction with a purse of ₹25.50 crore. They finished sixth last season and failed to make the playoffs. The aim would be to add more strength to their side with quality bowlers.