Jadeja-Samson trade is through; Have RR walked away with a sweetheart deal?

There is an old maxim in business and management parlance that a fair deal is often one in which both parties feel they have given up a little more than they should have, yet gained enough to move forward. Juxtapose that with the Chennai Super Kings-Rajasthan Royals situation, and one would wonder whether both franchises might be harbouring the same thought - that they have conceded a little too much.

The Royals may have walked away as the clear winners from the blockbuster trade, maybe the biggest ever in the IPL history. The Super Kings parted with an additional player - Sam Curran, valued at Rs 2.4 crore - along with Ravindra Jadeja, whose price tag of Rs 18 crore is identical to Sanju Samson's league fee.

Jadeja is unquestionably one of India's greatest all-rounders, and for more than a decade he's been a marquee presence in the IPL since the late Shane Warne anointed him "Rockstar" during Rajasthan Royals' title run in the inaugural season. But as he approaches 37, there is a growing sense that his peak years may be behind him. Across the last two editions, he has picked up only 18 wickets at an economy of 8.20. With the bat, his 568 runs at a strike rate of 139 are solid, but the Impact Sub era has pushed middle-order batters towards even higher power-hitting output. In this same period, Jadeja has retired from T20Is and was recently overlooked for the ODI series in Australia, with selectors preferring Axar Patel.

At 31, it would seem like Samson offers longer-term upside and also covers the wicketkeeping role that could open up once MS Dhoni walks away. Even so, Jadeja's value stretches far beyond the numbers.

One IPL CEO put it as a sweetheart deal for the Royals. "It's quite shocking that a franchise player who has been a star performer for CSK has been let go so easily. With MS Dhoni on the verge of retirement, who is the face of CSK? After MS, it was always Jadeja. Once MS is done, does the team have a representative face?" the CEO, seeking anonymity, remarked.

For the record, the trade, which had hit a technical snag due to the lack of an available overseas slot, as first reported by Cricbuzz on November 11, in the Royals' squad, has been cleared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). An official announcement is expected on Saturday (November 15).

Jadeja was bought by CSK through a secret bid in 2012 - believed to be a record price at the time. Jadeja has more than lived up to his billing, winning several matches for the franchise, including the 2023 final in which he famously struck a six and a four off the last two balls. His camaraderie with Dhoni was evident in the aftermath of those iconic shots as he ran into the skipper's warm embrace, a heart-warming celebration that will be remembered for years in IPL history. Thala and Thalapathy to CSK fans - one never thought the twain would ever part. They have.

Cricbuzz understands that the two have spoken before the trade process was initiated, and both apparently agreed that the move is in the best interest of everyone concerned.

With Noor Ahmad in the squad, there was a deliberation that a situation could arise where Jadeja might get dropped from the XI - something he would not prefer. It is also being said that the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai, the CSK base, is no longer the spin-friendly venue it once used to be. Jadeja had serious differences with the franchise in 2022 when he was briefly made skipper, but this time around, it is understood, they have parted on very cordial terms. In the IPL, Jadeja played for CSK in 185 matches, scoring 2000 runs and claiming over 140 wickets with an economy rate of less than eight. He has also featured in 14 CLT20 games for the franchise.

He is now retreating to a franchise where he was banned for one year in 2010 for allegedly negotiating with another team over a potential transfer. He played for the Royals in the first two seasons before that suspension. What he stands to gain from the switch - there is still no guarantee he will be made their skipper - but it is said that he will enjoy the status of a respected senior player. At CSK, that privilege belongs to Dhoni.

What the Super Kings will gain from trading Jadeja, their second most popular player, remains something of a riddle. It has now emerged that CSK had been pursuing Samson for the last three years, and their search for an Indian wicketkeeper-top-order batter has finally ended with someone who has been with the national set-up recently.

Samson is highly respected across IPL circles, and several franchises had previously explored negotiations with the Royals management before CSK clinched the deal. However, Samson has not exactly been a hit at the Chepauk. His numbers there read: 29 (off 17 balls) in 2015, 8 (off 10) in 2019, 0 (off 2) in 2023, 15 (off 19) in 2024, and 10 (off 11) in 2024 - a total of 59 runs in five innings, at an average of 11.8 and a strike rate of 100. Are these the numbers worth sacrificing a box-office star for?