Chennai Super Kings legend Suresh Raina has made his stance clear ahead of the IPL 2026 retention deadline, urging the franchise to retain Ravindra Jadeja amid ongoing trade talks for Sanju Samson.
Raina, who shared the field with Jadeja for many seasons, called the all-rounder an asset and stressed his contributions both with bat and ball.
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The talks involve Jadeja potentially moving to Rajasthan Royals while Samson could join CSK, but Raina believes losing Jadeja would be a big setback for the five-time champions.
Suresh Raina's take on CSK's potential IPL 2026 retention and release
While backing Jadeja, Raina also suggested that CSK should look to refresh other areas of the squad. He recommended releasing Devon Conway, Vijay Shankar, and Deepak Hooda, arguing that the team could find similar or better combinations through the mini-auction.
"Ravindra Jadeja should be retained again. He is a gun player for CSK. He has done really, really well for the team over the years, so 'Sir Ravindra Jadeja' has to be there," he said on JioStar.
More: What is Sanju Samson's record in T20 cricket at M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai?
He also highlighted retaining MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and young mystery spinner Noor Ahmad.
Could Raina's stance impact the Samson trade swap?
Raina's public backing of Jadeja comes at a time when trade negotiations are ongoing, with CSK reportedly considering sending Jadeja along with Sam Curran to RR in exchange for Samson.
His comments add another layer of attention to the discussions, highlighting the emotional and strategic weight Jadeja holds within CSK. Whether this influences the final decision remains to be seen, but it reinforces Jadeja's importance to the franchise as the IPL 2026 mini-auction approaches.
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