Ravindra Jadeja demands big role in Rajasthan Royals amidst buzz around his and Sanju Samson's swap deal: Report

The Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson's swap deal has brought another twist in the tale as Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are in a bid to strike a major trade. CSK legend Ravindra Jadeja is on the brink of a major trade move to RR, a switch that is reportedly tied to a demand for captaincy.

Ravindra Jadeja to become RR captain?

As per a report from News18, Jadeja has requested the captaincy as a condition of the trade. This high-profile swap would see the current RR captain Sanju Samson, move in the opposite direction to join CSK. Although the Royals have internal options like Riyan Parag, who stepped up as interim captain last season, the management is leaning towards installing a veteran face like Jadeja to ensure stability within the squad.

No big aspirations for Sanju Samson

The situation is slightly different at CSK. While Sanju Samson is seen as the clear heir to the franchise's legendary leader, MS Dhoni, whose playing future post-2025 is uncertain, he will not take over the captaincy immediately. CSK are committed to their incumbent leader, Ruturaj Gaikwad, despite him missing a significant portion of the last season due to injury. The franchise appears determined to maintain their current leadership structure for the upcoming season.

ALSO READ: 'Someone will have to miss out': India assistant coach confirms in-form Dhruv Jurel will play Kolkata Test, Rishabh Pant to replace this player

This trade, which also includes all-rounder Sam Curran moving to RR, is reportedly nearing completion. Reportedly, the deal is virtually finalised from both ends and, barring any last-minute issues, an official announcement is expected within the next couple of days. For Ravindra Jadeja, this move represents a return to his roots, as he began his IPL journey with the Royals in the first two seasons. After a brief suspension in 2010 for negotiating with the Mumbai Indians, he joined CSK in 2012 and went on to establish himself as a franchise legend.

The proposed trade involves two players with outstanding, yet contrasting, records in the Indian Premier League. Jadeja brings immense pedigree from CSK camp, having been an integral part of their success. Over 186 matches, Jadeja has amassed 2,198 runs and taken 143 wickets, contributing significantly to CSK's IPL titles in 2018, 2021, and 2023. His addition would inject much-needed experience and a proven match-winner into a RR squad that has typically leaned on young talent. It is worth noting that Jadeja has previous IPL captaincy experience, though his short stint leading CSK in 2022 was unsuccessful, resulting in a dip in form and him stepping down after the team lost six of its first eight matches that season.

ALSO READ: BCCI tells Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to play Vijay Hazare Trophy to continue playing for India: Report

What would Samson's deal mean for CSK?

On the other side of the trade, Samson's move to CSK would provide a dynamic, top-order batsman known for his flair. While he did not secure an IPL title with the Rajasthan Royals, Samson holds the distinction of being their longest-serving captain. Under his leadership, RR's record was perfectly balanced with 33 wins and 33 losses across 67 matches. More importantly, he leaves as the Royals’ all-time leading run-scorer, having tallied 4,219 runs in 155 matches for the franchise. His consistent performance and attacking mindset are expected to bolster CSK's batting lineup significantly.

The impetus for these major squad changes comes after a disappointing run for both franchises in the previous season. The Rajasthan Royals finished ninth in the IPL 2025 standings, while CSK held the wooden spoon, highlighting the urgent need for squad restructuring.