In the high-stakes lead-up to the IPL 2026 auction, a critical trade negotiation has collapsed. Chennai Super Kings, reeling from the departures of Ravichandran Ashwin (retired) and potentially Ravindra Jadeja, targeted Washington Sundar from Gujarat Titans as a prime Indian spin-all-rounder option. But the Titans have stood firm, rejecting both a player-swap and a cash offer. Gujarat regard Sundar as a “non-tradeable” asset given his evolving value and the scarcity of quality Indian spinners.

For CSK, the refusal is more than a trade setback—it jeopardises their traditional spin-led identity. With only Noor Ahmad from the overseas bowling pool filling that axis, CSK now face the tough job of sourcing an Indian spinner who can do justice to their legacy.

The ripple effects are significant: Gujarat’s confidence in Sundar signals his increasing market worth ahead of the mega-auction, while CSK must recalibrate strategy quickly or risk entering the auction with a gap in a core area.