Sanju Samson is reportedly set to leave Rajasthan Royals (RR) to join Chennai Super Kings (CSK) before IPL 2026. It was in August that it was reported that Sanju Samson wanted to leave the Rajasthan-based franchise. There were reports that he could join Delhi Capitals (DC) for the next season. But now it has emerged that he is on his way to the Yellow Army. Since Sanju Samson is RR’s present captain, will he lead CSK if he moves to the Chennai-based franchise?
Speaking on his YouTube channel, R Ashwin shared his take on it and opined that he might not be given captaincy. Ashwin kicked off his IPL career with CSK and played for them till 2015. He returned to CSK in the IPL 2025 mega-auction. Ashwin represented RR in IPL 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Ruturaj replaced MS Dhoni as CSK’s full-time captain before IPL 2024. The five-time IPL Champions failed to qualify for the second round of the season after losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their last league stage game. Ruturaj was ruled out of IPL 2025 after 5 matches due to an injury. He has 8 wins and 11 defeats in 19 matches. He captained India to a gold medal win in the 2023 Asian Games.
Sanju Samson has been leading RR since IPL 2021. RR played their first IPL final since 2008 in 2022. They lost to Gujarat Titans in the final. Sanju Samson has 33 wins and 32 defeats in 67 matches. The retention announcement date for the upcoming edition of the IPL (Indian Premier League) is November 15. The 10 franchises will be looking to finalise their retentions and releases ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
Ahead of the retention announcement, the trade rumours between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings involving the trade of Sanju Samson have been catching the headlines. It has been reported that Chennai Super Kings will be acquiring the services of Sanju Samson, whereas Rajasthan Royals will get Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in the trade deal. With the talks heating up, former India international cricketer R Ashwin came forward and opined that Samson would not be receiving the captaincy of Chennai right away in his first season.
Everyone knows that Sanju Samson wants to leave RR- Ravichandran Ashwin
Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star Ravichandran Ashwin made a massive statement on the trade rumours involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, CSK and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, the Rajasthan Royals are set to trade Sanju Samson to CSK in exchange for Jadeja and Sam Curran.
Ashwin reckoned that Samson wanting to leave Rajasthan was known to everyone. While the RR-CSK trade deal is doing the rounds, Ashwin also highlighted that Rajasthan were previously close to completing a trade deal with Delhi Capitals (DC), involving Tristan Stubbs and Sameer Rizvi. He reckoned that moving to Delhi would have been beneficial for Samson.
“Everyone knows that Sanju Samson wants to leave Rajasthan. Other franchises will be interested for his skill and talent and also that it weakens the other side. From my view, Tristan Stubbs and Sameer Rizvi for Samson in Delhi was very close to completion but it did not happen. It made sense for Delhi and the wicket was good for batting there so it was best for Samson.
If you score more in the IPL you are in the limelight. This trade would be have made more sense for Sanju. It was a good deal for RR as well as they had troubles in finishing,” he said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.
However, with the deal falling apart, Ashwin reflected that the scenario had changed for Rajasthan.
“Now things have changed for RR. In these many years, CSK and MI have never let go of players in return for a trade. So CSK would only tell that we will do a cash deal. But you cannot replace a high marquee player, a captain, and an opener like Sanju at the auction,” he added.
Sanju Samson has led Rajasthan for multiple seasons now. Overall, he has played 177 matches in the IPL. The right-hander has scored 4704 runs at an average of 30.94 and a strike-rate of 139.04 with three hundreds and 26 half-centuries.Ravichandran Ashwin reckoned that Rajasthan Royals trading in Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran for Sanju Samson would be a phenomenal deal if it went through.
Ashwin explained that Jadeja could be a solid finishing option for Rajasthan as the Jaipur pitch would suit him better. He added that Sam Curran coming in as an all-rounder would give them flexibility.
“We can only say for whom this trade will be better after the IPL 2026 season and not before that. adeja won one title for CSK with his batting in the last three years. Maybe he is not striking at 190-200 but he is still one of the best finishers going around. He is doing a fine job,” he said.
“Keeping this is mind that he has a better strike-rate and average against fast bowlers than spinners, that trade is going to be amazing news for RR. Jadeja gives the finishing skill and Jaipur is a venue that will suit him as the ball does not spin much. Now their young batters at the top can express themselves more because Jadeja will take care of the finishing. If Sam Curran goes with him, he floats, and gives them that bowling option, it is a phenomenal deal for RR,” he added.
Rajasthan struggled with their finishing in the batting and lacked an extra bowling option as well. The Sanju Samson trade could very well solve their issues heading into the next season.
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