R Ashwin finally broke his silence about the rumored CSK-Sanju Samson trade talks circulating everywhere. The spinner shared his honest thoughts about contract discussions and player movement rumors.
Ashwin addressed these speculative stories on his YouTube show called ‘Ash Ki Baat’ recently. He wanted people to understand how IPL contract talks actually work behind the scenes.
What Ashwin Said About These Trade Rumors
The CSK spinner explained that teams send performance reviews and contract offers through emails. Players don’t usually create these trade rumors themselves, he clarified during his show.
“I always believed that all the fans were well aware of the rules, but seeing the comments, I feel there should be some clarity. I played three years for RR. After the first year was over, I received an email from the CEO of RR, which was a performance review, outlining their expectations now, and stating that they are renewing my contract next year. So this happens on a yearly basis, and it is the responsibility of the franchisee to communicate with the player.”
“Now, a player can express that he does or does not have an interest in renewing the contract and hence can seek clarity. So in this situation, where I am right now, I only sought clarity, which I had, in fact, asked for after the season had ended. Right now, there is nothing in my hand. And all these rumours do not come from the player.”
“Take the situation with Sanju, it was not he who said anything. It was either rumours from here and there or from the franchise. And there are a lot of layers to this,” Ashwin said.
Cricket fans have been discussing the CSK-Sanju Samson trade possibility since last season ended. Reports suggested that Samson wants to leave Rajasthan Royals for better opportunities elsewhere.
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Some media stories linked Ashwin’s name to potential departures from the Chennai Super Kings. But the veteran player says he’s still waiting for clear answers from his team.
Ashwin mentioned that he asked CSK management about his future role last year. The team hasn’t given him a definite response about their plans yet.
Money Matters in Big Player Swaps
The spinner pointed out some practical problems with the CSK-Sanju Samson trade idea. Samson currently earns ₹18 crores per season, which creates financial challenges for any team.
“If Sanju is available for trade—I don’t know—that’s an answer RR will have to give, Manoj Badale will have to give, whoever is there in RR will have to give. But from Sanju’s perspective, they will ask him whether he wants to go or not.”
“I became a CSK player last year at 9.5 crores, and Sanju Samson’s price is 18 crores at RR. If CSK want to take an 18-crore player, they will have to keep 18 crores free, or they can directly trade with RR.”
“You can also trade somewhere else and take him in just a cash deal. I am not saying this is happening because I am conflicted in this matter. I work a little bit with the academy and am working with CSK, so I don’t have any inside news,” he added.
CSK would need to make major budget adjustments to afford Samson’s expensive contract. Teams have salary caps that limit how much they can spend on players.
Ashwin understands these business aspects because he’s played IPL cricket for many years. He knows that money often decides which trades actually happen or fail.
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Ashwin’s Frustrating Season With CSK
Last season turned out disappointing for Ashwin when he played only nine IPL matches. This number was much lower than his usual playing time in previous years.
“A lot of meetings happen, and decisions are made there on what will be done, and I have no current communication on it. Of course, I can ask for clarity—I have already asked before: what my role is, how I can get better, etc,” he said.
The reduced game time made him question his role in CSK’s future plans. He wanted clarity from team management about whether they still value his contributions.
Ashwin believes that honest communication between players and franchises helps everyone make better decisions. The CSK-Sanju Samson trade discussions highlight how complex these negotiations can become for everyone involved.
