The IPL could witness one of the most talked about transfer deals in recent times as talks continue between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), where two of the three players involved are all but certain.

CSK and RR restarted the negotiations regarding the potential trade of Sanju Samson, and the five-time champions offered two players in exchange, with Ravindra Jadeja being one of them. The other player has been reported to be England all-rounder Sam Curran.

Amid the recent development, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif claimed that the legendary MS Dhoni has played a critical role in the deal. He suggested it could be Dhoni’s final act in the IPL before retirement.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said Dhoni is not afraid of losing a match-winner like Jadeja in order to acquire an accomplished wicketkeeping and leadership option in Samson.

“The two players started playing IPL in 2008. Ever since he went to CSK, he hasn’t left it. If the trade is successful, this is Dhoni’s last year. There is also a chance that Dhoni might leave in the middle. If Sanju comes and starts to play, he gets comfortable with the management and Dhoni. In that case, Dhoni might ask Sanju to take over. We left Jadeja, our match-winner over the years, but we need a future captain," Kaif stated.

According to Kaif, the move largely stemmed from Jadeja’s failed stint as captain in 2022, when CSK won just one of their first eight games and he relinquished the leadership post only for Dhoni reclaim it.

“They previously made Jadeja the captain. He couldn’t manage things. He didn’t like the leadership. In the middle, he said that he can’t do it. Not all players can do captaincy in the IPL. In the long-term plan, Dhoni wants to sacrifice Jadeja to bring in a player who can take over leadership after the Dhoni era,” he added.

Kaif's comment came after a report in The Indian Express claimed that Jadeja had a lengthy discussion with Dhoni, current CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, and head coach Stephen Fleming before agreeing to join RR.

"Dhoni was involved in the discussions with Jadeja to gauge his interest, and only after the all-rounder too agreed on a move to Rajasthan that further talks took shape," the report mentioned.

Kaif reiterated that if the deal is finalised, IPL 2026 could be Dhoni's farewell season in the tournament.

“If Samson is likely to join CSK, there would be a lot of calls. Sanju must have called on the phone. Behind the scenes, there are a lot of phone calls. Sanju might have spoken to CSK, maybe Dhoni, ‘Bhai kya lagta hai.’ See, Dhoni runs the team, and if CSK wants Sanju this time, then he is also the future captain. It also means that this is Dhoni’s last year. Why would they want Sanju? Jadeja has been playing for them for a long time (since 2012),” Kaif said.

“The style of batting Sanju Samson has, he is more likely to succeed with the bat in Chennai than Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul. He might come at No. 3 or 4, and he can hit sixes in the middle overs,” he further remarked.