“Maybe it ended with CSK”


India's ex-spinner Aakash Chopra offered an interesting insight Ravindra Jadeja agreeing to a pay cut for the IPL season 2026. Jadeja was traded from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Rajasthan Royals (RR). The deal also involved Sam Curran moving from CSK to RR. Rajasthan was traded Sanju Samson to CSK.

Ravindra Jadeja was retained for ₹18 crore by CSK for IPL 2025. However, this time he was traded to RR for ₹14 crore, with a significant pay cut. Aakash Chopra questioned why Jadeja would have accepted a pay cut and felt that he probably wanted out of CSK and was therefore okay with the deal.

He also pondered whether RR offered Jadeja's captaincy, prompting him to agree to be traded at a lesser fee.

“RR got Jadeja but he got a pay cut. I think he left CSK on a pay cut? Without a player's consent you can't change his price. He took 4 million less to leave Chennai and that's mind boggling. Why would someone take a pay cut? Maybe he was done with CSK and didn't want to stay. The incentive he went to RR. It's very interesting that there's a bit more,” he said. say on his YouTube channel.

With Samson out, it remains to be seen who will lead RR in IPL 2026. Along with Jadeja, the likes of Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhurv Jurel are possible captaincy options for the franchise.

SRH must buy bowlers during IPL 2026 auction, feels Aakash Chopra

Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra believed that 2016 champions SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) should look to acquire bowlers during the IPL 2026 auction. They released the likes of Mohammad Shami, Adam Zampa, Rahul Chahar, Wian Mulder and Simarjeet Singh.

He felt that they needed no changes in the batting line-up, having retained the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasenamong others.

“SRH have released a lot of players so they will have to do something with the bowling. Their batting is fine and there is no need for changes. They have to buy the bowling and they have the money,” he said.

SRH will enter the IPL 2026 auction with a purse of Rs 25.50 crore. They finished sixth last season and didn't make the playoffs. The aim would be to add more strength to his side with quality bowling.