The summer of 2025 has brought a wave of speculation through IPL circles. The hot rumour? Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson making a blockbuster switch to Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
IPL trade window rules: What the BCCI regulations say?
The Indian Premier League has strict rules for player movement. Trades can only happen during specific trade windows, and even then, only players retained by their franchise—not bought in the latest auction—are eligible. The main trade window usually opens after a season ends and closes about a week before the next auction.
For a high-value retained player like Samson, a trade isn’t as simple as picking up the phone. Both franchises must agree, the player must consent, and contracts—often spanning multiple seasons—can lock players in for years. In Samson’s case, he’s tied to Rajasthan until 2027 unless the Royals release him or strike a deal in that narrow trade period.
Why a Samson-to-CSK trade is a long shot?
Samson’s hefty ₹18 crore salary reflects his stature, but it also makes a trade complicated. For CSK to land him, they’d have to match his value—likely by offering one or more big names in return—or propose a rare cash-equivalent deal.
That’s not CSK’s style. The franchise is known for stability, holding on to its senior players like Ravindra Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad. And with both teams having to juggle squad balance, salary caps, and retention strategies, a straight swap feels highly unlikely.
Even if it did happen, Rajasthan would face another problem—finding a new captain and batting anchor, all while staying within the cap and competing at the same level.
Also READ: Ravichandran Ashwin responds to the speculation of leaving CSK ahead of IPL 2026 retention
The player’s choice: Retention vs Auction
A newer IPL rule lets players refuse retention and enter the auction if they want a change. But there’s a catch: they can’t demand to go to a specific team. If Samson chose this route, he’d be up for grabs by all franchises, not just CSK.
In short, unless Rajasthan decide to release Samson and CSK outbids everyone else in the 2026 auction, the dream of seeing him in yellow remains just that—a dream.
Also READ: Ravichandran Ashwin reveals the shocking ‘extra money’ trick behind CSK’s IPL deal for Dewald Brevis
