Former Indian Premier League (IPL) champion Robin Uthappa has revealed that Ravindra Jadeja was open to the trade deal between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the 2026 auction. Uthappa, who is now an analyst, suggested that the all-rounder was keen on trying something new and different in his career. He compared Jadeja’s situation to that of Ravichandran Ashwin, hinting that the 36-year-old might end up back where he started his IPL journey. It is worth noting that Jadeja clinched his first IPL title with the Royals in the inaugural 2008 season.
Uthappa commended the administrators and broadcasters for allowing the players to make their own decisions. He also mentioned that RR reaped the benefits of the trade deal by acquiring two talented all-rounders in Jadeja and Sam Curran in exchange for wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson. However, it should be noted that the CSK-RR trade deal has not been officially confirmed yet.
Speaking on his YouTube channel on Thursday, November 13, Uthappa stated, “From what I understand, Jadeja was open to do the whole thing. So, for me, I think if somebody wants to try out something and do something, I think they should have the autonomy to make those decisions in their career, and I like the fact that cricketers have a little more autonomy because I think generally, they are all at the mercy of the administrators or in some cases the broadcasters, right?… For Sanju, you get Jadeja and Curran. I think that’s a good trade.”
He also hinted at the possibility of Jadeja wanting to lead RR in the future, saying, “I think there was a conversation about Jadeja wanting to lead RR as well… Maybe he wants to finish where he started. He played for RR first and won a championship there.”
In a separate analysis, former India opener Aakash Chopra shared his perspective on the CSK-RR trade deal. Chopra believes that CSK needed someone experienced to take over the wicketkeeping responsibilities from MS Dhoni, and Sanju Samson could be the ideal candidate. He predicted that Dhoni, who will turn 44 in July 2025, may not play all matches in the upcoming IPL season, which could potentially be his last in the T20 league.
Chopra expressed on his YouTube channel, “I think CSK are looking to be future-ready as MS will not play forever. They like experience. They wanted someone like Sanju. They did have Urvil Patel, and he was doing well, but he is not their long-term solution or Dhoni replacement. I don’t know if anyone can replace Dhoni, though.”
He added, “I feel Dhoni may not play all the games this season. With Sanju’s addition, I feel we will see Dhoni not playing all the matches this year itself.”
The CSK-RR trade deal has sparked discussions and speculation among fans and analysts alike, with many eagerly anticipating how the upcoming IPL season will unfold with these new player dynamics. As the countdown to IPL 2026 begins, cricket enthusiasts are eager to witness the impact of these strategic moves on the field.
