IPL Trade News Highlights: Samson-Jadeja swap key talking point ahead of retention deadline; will MI release Chahar?

GT, led by India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill since Hardik Pandya was traded to Mumbai Indians in late 2023, have been linked with Chennai Super Kings of late, with reports suggesting the five-time champions have their eyes on spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar.

The Titans, however, have reportedly rejected all of their advances so far and aren’t likely to release him anytime soon. The players they might release ahead of the auction, though, are overseas players such as Sherfane Rutherford, Kusal Mendis and Dasun Shanaka.

Punjab Kings had undergone a complete overhaul ahead of the mega auction last year, retaining just two players – both uncapped – and would go on to finish runners-up under Shreyas Iyer’s leadership earlier this year, reaching the playoffs after more than a decade.

While they wouldn’t want to make too many changes to a squad that found success last season, PBKS certainly will be looking to release a few players into the auction pool to free up funds. Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is one such candidate, while New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson is another.

India pacer Deepak Chahar, once an integral member of the Chennai Super Kings attack, had been bought by Mumbai Indians for Rs 9.25 crore in last year’s mega auction in Jeddah, with the team management hoping that he would be able to control the powerplay along with left-arm quick Boult, allowing captain Hardik Pandya some flexibility with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

The Rajasthan bowler, however, ended up collecting 11 wickets at an average and economy of 34.18 and 9.17 respectively, which might not impress MI enough to retain him for his steep price.

All-rounder Riyan Parag had led the Royals in Samson’s absence, with the keeper-batter having missed some matches early in the season due to an injury. The Assamese cricketer therefore, could be a strong candidates.

Alternatively, RR could also ask Ravindra Jadeja to lead the side for a season or two before zeroing in on a permanent leader. Among the other candidates in the fray are opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel – who is likely to take over the wicketkeeper’s role if Samson does part ways with the franchise.

With RCB having finally ended a 17-year title drought by defeating Punjab Kings in the final of the 18th season in June, one would expect the side to retain a majority of the players from the victorious campaign and only make cosmetic changes.

That said, there are a few players RCB might be looking to release to free up some funds for their auction purse, and England all-rounder Liam Livingstone – who hardly impressed with his bat as well as with his off-spin after being bought for Rs 8.75 crore – is one of the first names that comes to mind.

West Indian all-rounder Romario Shepherd might have been another such candidate, but the manner in which he has been striking the ball in the recent tour of New Zealand might help him retain his place in the squad.

RCB will be going through a transformation in the build-up to the 19th season of the IPL next year with owners Diageo putting the franchise up for sale, having initiated the process to sell the IPL as well as WPL teams. Former India batter Mohammad Kaif, however, does not believe the sale will affect the franchise’s fortunes, especially after they finally won their maiden title after a 17-year wait in June.

“RCB have understood to spend as much money on bowlers as they do on batters… Whoever comes as owners, RCB have now set a template that Kohli bats at the top and Tim David plays as a finisher. They brought Phil Salt – Kohli and Salt gave good starts. Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya aren’t that big names but Pandya proved himself as a match-winner with the bat. He also performed well with the ball,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

Explosive South African keeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen has been a crucial part of the SRH middle order in recent seasons, and had played a key role in the ‘Orange Army’ finishing runners-up last year, which led to the franchise making him their No 1 retention ahead of the mega auction.

However, a report on The Times of India suggests that the 2016 champions might end up releasing Klaasen after a poor run earlier this year. The funds freed up by his release – Rs 23 crore – would then allow them to fill gaps in the squad in the upcoming mini-auction. SRH might even look to buy Klaasen back at a lower price in the auction, possibly using their Right To Match card.

With Ravichandran Ashwin retiring from international cricket as well as the Indian Premier League and Ravindra Jadeja likely to be traded to Rajasthan Royals, CSK will be in need of a spin-bowling all-rounder. And who better a candidate to fill the void than GT’s Sundar, who bowls off-spin and is a Chennai lad, calling Chepauk his home.

Gujarat Titans, however, have been rejecting CSK’s advances so far, and aren’t likely to release him anytime soon.

According to the latest reports coming in, the mega trade deal with Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals is almost complete, and a confirmation should be announced in the next 48 hours. And it’s not just Jadeja who will be joining RR in exchange for Samson; English seam-bowling all-rounder Sam Curran’s also part of this deal.

Reports also add that all three players have given their thumbs up to this deal, and only the official paperworks remain as of now.

Rumours of former MI captain Rohit joining KKR gained traction after former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar was appointed the franchise’s head coach recently. Nayar is said to share good relations with Rohit and had recently helped him prepare for the ODI series in Australia, where he had finished as the highest run-scorer and was adjudged the ‘Player of the Series’.

Five-time IPL champions MI, however, shut down those rumours with a witty social media post. Click here to read the full story

Ravichandran Ashwin, who has played for Chennai Super Kings as well as Rajasthan Royals among other franchises, doesn’t think Samson will replace Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain right away if the ‘Yellow Army’ are successful in bringing him over.

“I don’t think Sanju will be given the captaincy because it would be his first season there. I think Ruturaj Gaikwad will continue, but he will definitely be an option going ahead,” Ashwin said on his YouTube show ‘Ash Ki Baat‘.