Ashish Nehra refuses MS Dhoni’s trade request for Washington Sundar; KL Rahul’s KKR move hits roadblock

The buzz around two of the biggest Indian Premier League (IPL) trade rumors, Washington Sundar to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and KL Rahul to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has finally been silenced.

As reported by Cricbuzz, Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach Ashish Nehra has made it clear that Washington Sundar is not available for trade, ending Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) hopes of bringing the all-rounder to the yellow camp for the IPL 2026.

CSK’s hopes crushed as GT refuses to trade Washington Sundar; KL Rahul’s KKR move also unlikely

The CSK have been reportedly eager to bring the off-spin all-rounder Sundar to the side ahead of the IPL 2026 season. MS Dhoni was reportedly keen on having an off-spinner by his side and a proper all-rounder for the balance that he kept throughout his stint for the next season.

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But Gujarat Titans are not ready to leave Sundar. Nehra’s firm stance has already been communicated to CSK management, shutting down any further discussions regarding the trade.

On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been looking for a captain who can also keep wickets and anchor the innings. Sanju Samson and KL Rahul were seen as perfect fits for the role, but KKR are not ready to give up any of their top players in return.

KKR’s dream move for KL Rahul hits a dead end

KKR wanted to bring KL Rahul into the side from Delhi Capitals. But the three-time IPL champions don’t have the kind of trade assets DC would agree to, with Rinku Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi untouchable and icons like Andre Russell and Sunil Narine off-limits.

Even Venkatesh Iyer, after an unimpressive season, isn’t likely to tempt Delhi. And due to which, Rahul’s move to KKR seems almost impossible, even if franchises like Rajasthan Royals (RR) or Delhi Capitals (DC) manage to pull off the Samson trade ahead of the IPL 2026.

Sanju Samson wants out, but DC not ready to trade yet

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) could be facing a tough situation with Samson reportedly keen to move to a new franchise. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter has made his intentions clear, putting the Royals in a challenging situation ahead of the IPL 2026 season.

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On the other hand, the Capitals are not under any pressure to make a move. The franchise is open to discussions about a possible trade but only if they receive a top-quality player in return. As of now, no such offer has been made, which means the chances of a Samson-DC deal remain uncertain.

Notably, Chennai Super Kings reportedly showed interest in bringing Samson on board, but RR’s bold demand for either Ravindra Jadeja or Ruturaj Gaikwad immediately shut down the conversation. CSK was unwilling to part with their core stars.

With the IPL 2026 auction fast approaching, the excitement in the cricket world is at its peak. As the November 15 retention deadline nears, franchises are racing to finalize their lists—and behind the scenes, some explosive trade talks are taking place that can surprise many.