Rajasthan Royals are set to re-sign Ravindra Jadeja in what will mark a full circle in the all-rounder’s career as his 13-year stay with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is set to come to an end, with Sanju Samson set to move the other way in arguably the biggest player swap deal in the Indian Premier League’s history.

For a few months, it has been widely reported that Samson has asked the Royals to either trade him or release him into the auction. The 30-year-old has been linked with various franchises, but it is the Super Kings’ that now seem to be leading the race to sign as they look to sign a long-term replacement for MS Dhoni, who is in the sunset of his career.

A report by Cricbuzz has now revealed that it is Jadeja who could be on his way back to the Royals. The published information revealed that the five-time champions had consulted Jadeja over the move before starting trade talks with the Royals.

It is worth noting that ahead of the 2025 campaign, both Jadeja and Samson were retained by CSK and RR for Rs. 18 crore, which makes a swap deal a straightforward option to stay within IPL’s salary cap.

Ravindra Jadeja To End Career Where He Started?

Although Jadeja was a well-known face in Indian cricket, having been part of the 2006 and 2008 U-19 World Cup squads, it was in the inaugural IPL season that he burst into the limelight with the Royals. The star all-rounder played a key role in helping the Shane Warne-led team win the title, which earned him his India debut a few months later. Jadeja last played for the Royals in 2009 and is now set to re-join the franchise 16 years later.

Jadeja was signed by CSK in 2012 for a then-record fee at the auction and has stayed with the franchise ever since, apart from the two years (2016-17) that they were suspended, when he played for Gujarat Lions.

As far as Samson is concerned, he joined the Royals in 2013 and made an instant impression in his debut season in the IPL. Samson has been part of the franchise ever since and has been leading them since the 2021 season. However, he played for Delhi Daredevils in 2016 and 2017 when the 2008 champions were suspended.