Chennai Super Kings’ hunt for MS Dhoni’s successor could lead them to Sanju Samson. The IPL rumour mill is buzzing with talk of the Rajasthan Royals skipper making the move down south in a blockbuster deal. Sanju has played for the Royals in 8 of his 10 seasons and has been captain since 2021.
Sanju Samson’s agent fuels IPL 2026 rumours
Social media chatter has linked Sanju Samson with an exit from the Rajasthan Royals. The Kerala superstar first joined the franchise when 18 and is also their highest paid player. However, despite the positive association a disastrous IPL 2025 campaign seems to have caused some fraction.
Sanju had a stop start season with Riyan Parag leading 7 games in his absence. Reports of a rift between Rahul Dravid and Sanju Samson emerged during the season, with Dravid playing those down. The emergence of Vaibhav Suryavanshi as an opener and the presence of Jaiswal and Parag as leadership options has reduced Sanju’s stock.
Rumours of his exit have further accelerated after his agent Prashobh Sudevan further flamed the fire. Samson’s agent liked a social media post hinting the 30-year-old’s move to Chennai Super Kings. While a like is no confirmation, it is enough to fuel IPL 2026 rumours.
Where would Samson fit in at CSK?
Should CSK make the trade, Samson would seamlessly fit into the XI. He could either open or bat at No.3, forming a formidable trio with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre. Sanju will also keep wickets, allowing MS Dhoni to retire. CSK have relied on their talisman behind the stumps and Sanju can fill that gap.
Whether he leads the side will be questionable. Chennai identified Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain but they failed to make the playoffs in his full season in charge. In IPL 2025 he led in 5 games, with CSK only winning once. Samson could thus provide an alternative.
