‘Punjab Kings were also in the mix for Sanju Samson trade’ - Ashwin reveals trade secret ahead of IPL 2026 auction

The trade saga surrounding Sanju Samson took another twist, as reports suggest that apart from Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Punjab Kings (PBKS) also made an offer to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the seasoned wicketkeeper-batter ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. Although CSK have reportedly secured Samson’s services, there was a period when PBKS were also in the race to sign him.

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has previously represented both PBKS and CSK, revealed this information. He explained that RR’s trade demand for Samson was straightforward, they wanted a finisher and a bowler in return from Punjab. Ashwin also mentioned that Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis was among the key names discussed as part of the potential swap deal.

Stoinis fit perfectly into RR’s requirement for a finisher, given his ability to contribute with both bat and ball. However, Ashwin did not disclose which bowler PBKS had put forward to accompany Stoinis in the trade. Speculation suggests it could have been one of Harpreet Brar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, or perhaps a combination of multiple uncapped bowlers.

Ultimately, the deal failed to materialize, as PBKS seemingly lacked the right assets to meet RR’s expectations. Other than Shreyas Iyer and Arshdeep Singh, the franchise didn’t have a player of significant trade value to balance a swap involving Samson. Hence, despite PBKS’s interest, the trade negotiations hit a dead end, leaving CSK in the prime position to acquire the RR skipper ahead of the new IPL season.

“I heard this murmur that it wasn’t just Delhi or Chennai that were in the race (to get Sanju Samson via trade), but Rajasthan also got a trade offer from the Punjab Kings. It was a very good offer. Rajasthan wanted a bowler and finisher combination. I hear that Marcus Stoinis might have also been on the table,” Ashwin said on Ash ki Baat.

CSK appear to have the firepower to make the Samson trade happen, with Ravindra Jadeja reportedly being a key part of the potential deal. If the trade goes through as planned, Jadeja is expected to move to RR in exchange for Samson. In addition, one of Sam Curran or Matheesha Pathirana could also be included to balance the trade value.

From a financial standpoint, Jadeja and Curran together account for INR 20.40 crore, while Samson’s price tag stands at INR 18 crore, making it a relatively even exchange in terms of player valuation.