New Delhi: Discussions surrounding a potential trade involving Sanju Samson of the Rajasthan Royals have intensified, presenting challenges for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their pursuit of a replacement for Ravindra Jadeja.
CSK is reportedly engaged in advanced negotiations with the Royals to acquire their captain, Samson. In this potential deal, CSK is prepared to send Jadeja along with all-rounder Sam Curran to the 2008 champions. Initially, CSK sought to include Washington Sundar from the Gujarat Titans to bolster their spin department but has since rejected the trade, according to the Indian Express.
Sundar’s rise in international cricket has established him as a regular member of the Indian squad across all formats. Acquired by the Titans for ₹3.2 crores in the IPL 2025 mega auction, Sundar transitioned from Sunrisers Hyderabad after a brief tenure from 2022 to 2024, during which he largely remained on the sidelines in 2024 due to the impact player rule.
Last season, Sundar’s bowling efforts were limited; he bowled less than 11 overs across six matches, achieving two wickets. However, he made a stronger impact with the bat, scoring 133 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 166.25, with a top score of 49.
Sundar began his IPL career in 2017 with the Rising Pune Supergiant before spending four subsequent years with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (formerly known as Royal Challengers Bangalore).
CSK boasts a rich history of featuring quality spinners, including Muttiah Muralitharan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Imran Tahir, and Moeen Ali. With Jadeja’s departure to the Royals, CSK’s spin options will further diminish. Currently, they rely on Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmed and Indian spinner Shreyas Gopal as backups. The absence of Sundar would have strengthened their spin attack; following the declined trade, CSK will need to explore other trade opportunities or target spinners in upcoming auctions.
