CSK Set to Replace Ashwin with Washington Sundar Ahead of IPL 2026
In some good news for Chennai Super Kings fans, Gujarat Titans are reportedly set to trade Washington Sundar to CSK ahead of IPL 2026. The all-rounder, who started his IPL journey in 2017 with Rising Pune Supergiants, played only six games for GT in the 2025 season, scoring 133 runs and taking two wickets. If the trade goes through, it would be a big boost for CSK, who are searching for a replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin after he retired from the IPL earlier this year.
According to Tamil news website Samayam, Gujarat Titans have agreed to trade Washington Sundar to Chennai Super Kings for ₹3.2 crore, the same amount they paid for him in the IPL 2026 mega auction. The report says GT decided to trade him because they couldn’t use him properly in their team. It also mentions that CSK did not set any special conditions for the trade.
Washington Sundar likely to join CSK ahead of IPL 2026
The report states that the CSK management had planned to replace Ravichandran Ashwin with Sundar before the latter announced his retirement and were in talks with GT since. Bought for Rs 9.75 crore, Ashwin failed to impress on his return to CSK, faring poorly with both bat and ball.
He managed to score just 33 runs and take 7 wickets in 9 games, thereby failing to justify his price tag. While his release was imminent, Ashwin decided to bring the curtains down on his IPL career in order to explore other T20 leagues across the globe. CSK’s move to bring in Washington Sundar is part of their plan to rebuild the team and add more young players. The five-time champions had a tough season in IPL 2025, finishing last in the points table for the first time.
Washington Sundar’s 2025 Stats
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Team (Previous Season) | Gujarat Titans |
| Matches Played | 6 |
| Bowling | 65 deliveries, 2 wickets |
| Batting Runs | 133 |
| Batting Strike Rate | 166.25 |
| Batting Average | 26 |
| Contract Amount (with GT) | ₹3.2 crore |
| Expected Trade Amount (to CSK) | ₹3.2 crore |
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