According to Tamil Samayam, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have finalised an all-cash deal to acquire Washington Sundar from the Gujarat Titans (GT). It is understood that the Washington Sundar to CSK path became clear after Ravichandran Ashwin retired from the IPL.

CSK Look for Replacement for Ashwin

Ashwin represented the Men in Yellow last season, picking seven wickets in nine appearances. For the first time in his IPL career, the veteran spinner played less than 10 games, signifying a lack of impact on the field. Over the last few months, discussions have been ongoing regarding the CSK 2026 trade player, as they seek to fill the gaps evident in the last edition.

Related Article：Ravichandran Ashwin Retired from IPL：What’s His Next Move?

Why Washington Sundar Could Be a Perfect Replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin in IPL 2026?

Like Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar is a ‘Chennai Boy’, but has yet to represent the Super Kings in the cash-rich league. He kicked off his career in 2017 with Rising Pune Supergiant, then played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Washington Sundar’s Batting in IPL 2025

In the last edition, Sundar represented the Gujarat Titans and showcased his ability with the bat, scoring 133 runs at a strike rate of 166.25. His top knock of 49 off 29 came after he was promoted to the No. 4 spot against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The southpaw has a knack for playing a clutch knock when the opposition is slowly trying to take control of the proceedings. However, the right-arm spinner couldn’t perform well with the ball. He picked only two wickets in six games at an expensive economy of 10.24 and an average of 55.50. But it was also because he got flattish wickets in the franchise’s home venue, Ahmedabad.

Washington Sundar’s Bowling in IPL 2025

Meanwhile, Chepauk (home venue of CSK) has been known to assist the spinners, helping them to secure consistent breakthroughs. It also offers value for a spinner capable of extracting turns and deceiving batters with their talent. For example, Sundar picked a total of 11 wickets in one of the Test fixtures against New Zealand at Pune last year, which was a rank-turner. The performance shows his ability to cause inroads into the opposition’s batting line-up, if provided with a perfect setup.

🚨 Washington Sundar trade to CSK 🚨

– Chennai Super Kings has choosen Washington Sundar as R Ashwin replacement, and has contact GT management for a trade. It is said that Gujarat Titans management has agreed to trade Washington Sundar for an all cash deal. [Tamil Samayam] pic.twitter.com/vOws0ShUnt

— Ahmed Says (@AhmedGT_) October 22, 2025

Washington Sundar could turn out to be a long-term replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin in IPL 2026. Due to a strong technique, he can act as a shield in times of trouble and also provide a finishing touch due to his ball-striking abilities. Over the years, Sundar has not played regularly in IPL due to team combination and injury concerns. However, this might be the right time for him to emerge as a CSK 2026 trade player, which may help him to become a better performer with the ball in familiar conditions. The 26-year-old can serve as a floater in the batting line-up, can bowl in the powerplay, and keep the opposition quiet in the middle overs.

Does Washington Sundar to CSK Deal Make Sense?

Washington Sundar was slowly coming into his own in the Gujarat Titans setup. He produced his finest-ever season with the bat last year and looked like he was comfortable with the Shubman Gill-led side. According to rumours, Sundar wanted to stay with the Titans in the 2026 edition as well. But the franchise has reportedly agreed to release him, as they could not utilise him effectively last year. Hence, he is now being looked at as the replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin in IPL 2026 for CSK.

🚨Breaking News🚨

According to reports, CSK have approached GT for an all-cash trade deal to acquire Washington Sundar as a replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin. Talks have progressed well, and GT have agreed to release Sundar without any conditions pic.twitter.com/a5sqYkknGW

— CricUpdates (@Cricupdatess) October 22, 2025

After Ashwin’s retirement, CSK will have the presence of Noor Ahmad and Ravindra Jadeja as the spin options, while Shreyas Gopal is the backup. Ahmad scalped 24 wickets to emerge as the second-highest wicket-taker in 2025, while Jadeja also bagged 10 wickets. Both are guaranteed starters in CSK XI, and they might not need a third spinner on every surface, thus keeping Sundar’s participation low. Moreover, the trio of Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, and Jadeja are likely to be the finishers, leaving no room for a player like Sundar to be accommodated.

Washington Sundar will get more value as a player in the GT setup due to his all-around abilities, which can effectively be used by captain Shubman Gill. Hence, the Washington Sundar to CSK path doesn’t seem to make sense when looked upon as the future outlook for the all-rounder.

Are CSK No Longer Interested in Sanju Samson?

Sanju Samson was also rumoured to be a CSK 2026 trade player a few months ago. He was looked at as a credible leadership figure, an experienced top-order batter, and a wicketkeeper. This came after his disagreement with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) team management became public, especially regarding the player retentions. Samson was reportedly unhappy with the Royals’ releasing Jos Buttler, who had been a legendary figure in the setup. Moreover, he also battled injury concerns, leading to a frustrating season. But, head coach Rahul Dravid’s and CEO Jake Lush McCrum’s departure could hint at the Royals wanting Samson to stay with the franchise.

Related Article：Breaking Down the RR and CSK Trade Options – Here’s Who Might Be on the Table

🚨 RR ❌ SANJU SAMSON 🚨 [Espn Cricinfo]

– Samson has told the franchise he wants to be released ahead of the auction for IPL 2026.
– Franchise has not yet given him a definitive Answer.
– Decision will be taken by RR Owner in coordination with Rahul Dravid.
– As per the IPL… pic.twitter.com/UvwOoHceI7

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 7, 2025

Despite Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement, CSK would have to go all out for Samson, whose current salary is INR 18 crore. It is a big amount, given the franchise needs to fill only a few holes. The Washington Sundar to CSK route seems plausible, as it would cost the franchise only INR 3.2 crore. This trade could also help them groom a player who has two-way abilities and is a long-term prospect.