A major shake-up has taken place ahead of IPL 2026. Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will no longer represent the Chennai Super Kings. Instead, he will turn out for the Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming season. In return, RR have traded their former captain Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings. However, while Sanju Samson’s earnings remain unchanged, Jadeja has suffered a significant pay cut of ₹4 crore. Here is how much both players will earn under their new franchises.

Ravindra Jadeja’s New IPL Salary
After spending 12 seasons with Chennai Super Kings, Ravindra Jadeja will now don the jersey of Rajasthan Royals. RR traded Sanju Samson to CSK to acquire Jadeja. With Chennai, Jadeja earned ₹18 crore per season. Under his new contract with Rajasthan Royals, he will be paid ₹14 crore per season — a reduction of ₹4 crore compared to his previous earnings.

How Much Will Sanju Samson Earn at CSK?
Sanju Samson, one of the most experienced players in the league with 177 IPL matches, will now play for Chennai Super Kings. CSK will pay him ₹18 crore per season, the same amount he earned at Rajasthan Royals. This means Samson faces no financial loss despite the trade.

Other Major Player Trades for IPL 2026
The Jadeja-Samson exchange was not the only notable move. Several other players have switched teams ahead of the new season:

Sam Curran:
The England all-rounder has moved from Chennai Super Kings to Rajasthan Royals. He will continue to receive the same salary as last season — ₹2.4 crore. This marks his third franchise after Punjab Kings and CSK.

Mohammed Shami:
Senior pacer Mohammed Shami has been traded from Sunrisers Hyderabad to Lucknow Super Giants. Lucknow will pay him ₹10 crore per season. Shami, who has played for five franchises, won the Purple Cap in 2023 with 28 wickets.

Arjun Tendulkar & Nitish Rana:
Mumbai Indians have traded Arjun Tendulkar to Lucknow Super Giants, where he will earn ₹30 lakh per season. Nitish Rana has moved from Rajasthan Royals to Delhi Capitals and will be paid ₹4.2 crore for the season.

Mayank Markande & Donovan Ferreira:
Leg-spinner Mayank Markande, previously with Kolkata Knight Riders, has joined Mumbai Indians via trade. His salary will be ₹30 lakh per season.
South African batsman Donovan Ferreira has been traded from Rajasthan Royals to Delhi Capitals. His new contract offers ₹1 crore per season, a jump from his earlier ₹75 lakh salary.