IPL Auction Set for December: Major Trades on the Horizon

Upcoming IPL Auction Details

The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction for the upcoming season is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi, with the governing council currently finalizing the venue and arrangements, according to sources from the league.

As it stands, the auction is planned for December 15-16.

Confirmation regarding the venue and date is expected in the coming days, the sources added.

Highlights from the 2025 IPL Season

The 2025 IPL season was remarkable, particularly for Virat Kohli, who finally clinched his first IPL trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after 18 years, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in the final held at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium.

Sai Sudharsan from Gujarat Titans (GT) stood out as the leading run-scorer, amassing 759 runs across 15 matches, averaging 54.21, with a century and six fifties, while maintaining a strike rate of 156.17.

Despite not reaching the final, GT's bowling was impressive, with Prasidh Krishna topping the charts with 25 wickets in 15 matches, averaging 19.52 and achieving best figures of 4/41.

Potential High-Profile Trade Involving Sanju Samson

In a significant potential trade, Rajasthan Royals (RR) are reportedly negotiating to send their captain and long-time wicketkeeper-batter, Sanju Samson, to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in exchange for all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.

Initial discussions have taken place between the franchises and the players, although no official announcements have been made. To proceed, both CSK and RR must submit an expression of interest to the IPL Governing Council, detailing the three players involved in the proposed trade. Once the players provide their written consent, the franchises can finalize the deal, pending approval from the governing council, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

Sanju Samson's Legacy at Rajasthan Royals

Sanju Samson has been a pivotal figure for Rajasthan Royals for over a decade, having represented the team for 11 seasons since joining in 2013. He quickly became a key player and was retained ahead of the 2014 season at just 19 years old.

After a two-year suspension for RR (2016-17), he returned in 2018 and took on the captaincy in 2021. Under his leadership, and with guidance from team director Kumar Sangakkara, RR reached the IPL final in 2022, marking their first appearance since winning the inaugural season in 2008.

Samson has led the team in 67 matches, achieving a balanced record of 33 wins and 33 losses. His standout season was in 2024, where he scored 531 runs at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.47. Although he was retained for Rs 18 crore ahead of the 2025 season, an injury sidelined him during the latter half of the tournament, contributing to RR's struggles as they finished ninth out of ten.

He remains RR's all-time leading run-scorer with 4027 runs, shares the record for the most 50-plus scores (25), and has the highest number of catches (149) for the franchise. Following the 2025 season, he expressed a desire for a change, prompting the team to explore trade options.

Ravindra Jadeja's Impact at Chennai Super Kings

Ravindra Jadeja has been a crucial member of Chennai Super Kings since joining in 2012, contributing to three of their five IPL titles, except for the two years during CSK's suspension. He was retained for Rs 18 crore ahead of the 2025 mega auction as CSK's second-choice player after captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.

With 254 IPL matches under his belt, he ranks fifth in tournament history and is CSK's leading wicket-taker with 143 wickets, including a best performance of 5/16.

Jadeja's most memorable moment came during the 2023 IPL final, where his last-over heroics secured the title for CSK. He had a stellar season in 2025, taking 20 wickets and scoring 301 runs, including two fifties. Interestingly, RR was Jadeja's first IPL team, where he debuted in 2008 as a 19-year-old and was part of their title-winning squad that year.