Sanju Samson to CSK, Jadeja to RR: Mega Trade Shakes Up IPL 2026 Retention List

The biggest talking point of the IPL trade window has finally been confirmed: Sanju Samson will play for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026. Chennai have secured the former Rajasthan Royals captain at his existing league fee of ₹18 crore, with the deal confirmed and listed among the completed trades for the new season.

The move turns Sanju Samson CSK from a rumour into reality. For the five-time champions, this is only the third franchise of his IPL career and a decisive step in shaping their batting and leadership beyond the MS Dhoni era. Samson, who has featured in more than 170 IPL games and led RR to the 2022 final, now becomes the marquee Indian batter at Chepauk.

Ravindra Jadeja RR Homecoming After 15 Years

The another giant of the league, Ravindra Jadeja joins Rajasthan Royals in what is effectively a high-profile homecoming. The all-rounder, who spent 12 seasons in yellow, leaves CSK with his league fee adjusted from ₹18 crore to ₹14 crore as part of the agreement. For the inaugural champions, Ravindra Jadeja RR is more than just a headline but it is a complete shift in the team’s balance. Jadeja returns to the franchise where his IPL story first took off, this time as one of the best all rounders in IPL with over 250 appearances, a proven record with both bat and ball, and the aura of a multiple-time champion.

Multi-Player Trade: Reshapes Retention List of IPL 2026

The confirmation of the Samson–Jadeja swap is part of a wider burst of activity in the trade window ahead of the retention list of IPL 2026 being finalized. England all-rounder Sam Curran has also moved from CSK to Rajasthan Royals at his existing fee of ₹2.4 crore, giving RR another left-arm option who can contribute heavily at the death and in the lower middle order.

The overall list of completed trades for IPL 2026 also features big names such as Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants, Arjun Tendulkar to LSG, Mayank Markande to MI, Donovan Ferreira to RR, Sherfane Rutherford to MI and Nitish Rana to Delhi Capitals, underlining how aggressively teams are reshaping their squads before the auction.

All of this is happening on a crucial day when franchises must send their official retention list of IPL 2026 to the league. According to the updated rules, teams can keep any number of players as long as they stay within a 25-man squad limit and a total salary cap of ₹120 crore — and the trade window remains open even after retention lists are locked, right up to a week before the auction in Abu Dhabi.

Impact of Sanju Samson CSK Move and Ravindra Jadeja RR Return

The Sanju Samson CSK signing gives Chennai a high-impact top-order wicketkeeper-batter who is proven against both pace and spin and can slot in as an opener or at No. 3 while keeping the scoring rate high. His captaincy experience with Rajasthan Royals, including leading them to the 2022 final, also makes him a natural part of CSK’s long-term leadership plans. On the other side, the Ravindra Jadeja RR move turns Royals into a stronger all-rounder-driven side, with Jadeja’s four overs of left-arm spin, late-order hitting and elite fielding helping them deepen both batting and bowling and stay flexible with overseas combinations.

A Trade That Could Define the Storyline of IPL 2026

With the dust settling on this headline-grabbing move, it is clear that the Sanju Samson CSK and Ravindra Jadeja RR storyline will dominate early conversations around IPL 2026. One franchise has handed the keys of its batting and future leadership to a proven top-order star; the other has reunited with a champion all-rounder who can tilt games on his own.

This sets against the backdrop of the retention list of IPL 2026 and a busy trade window among the best teams in IPL. This swap doesn’t just move two big names but it redraws the competitive map of the league before a single paddle goes up at the auction.