Sanju Samson has been in the news throughout this year. First it was him forming an opening pair with Abhishek Sharma in the Indian T20I team, then it was him and a potential exit from Rajasthan Royals (RR) after a poor IPL 2026. Then, Shubman Gill displaced him in the international side, while the trade deal with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) became the talk of the town. Alongside Hardik Pandya to MI, Samson is now part of the biggest trade deal ever.
Now, Rajasthan Royals (RR) assistant and fast-bowling coach Shane Bond has opened up on Samson’s exit. Just like owner Manoj Bandale revealed that Samson was emotionally drained, Bond shared that sometimes it (change) is best for both the team and a player. Bond, who is with RR for two seasons now, complimented Samson on his attitude and revealed that he really enjoyed working with him. While speaking to the Quint, Bond said:
“Sometimes it’s the best thing for both the team and the player, just to get a fresh environment and a fresh experience. I really enjoyed working with Sanju. He’s a very funny guy, has a great sense of humour, and we connected really well. It’s going to feel weird to see him in yellow, but I’m sure I’ll still see that cheeky grin. Of course, you hope he doesn’t score runs against you, but at the same time, when you’ve spent time with someone, you care about them and you want them to do well wherever they are.“
Sanju Samson at CSK!
The Chennai Super Kings have landed more than just a marquee signing. In Sanju Samson, they have secured a proven match-winner, a long-term wicketkeeping option after MS Dhoni, and a ready-made leadership choice if circumstances demand it. Samson’s move to CSK was rumoured for months. It finally became official last month. When Samson first donned the yellow jersey, it felt he belonged to the colour. Wearing CSK’s No. 11 for the first time, Samson admitted it felt completely different from anything he had experienced before.
The trade that brought Samson to Chennai was the biggest in IPL history. Rajasthan Royals gave up their captain, while CSK parted ways with a franchise icon in Ravindra Jadeja, along with Sam Curran. Both teams made bold calls after finishing last and second last in IPL 2025.
Ruturaj Gaikwad remains CSK’s captain, and Dhoni is expected to continue behind the stumps. That means Samson begins his CSK journey as a specialist batter, even though everyone knows he offers far more than just runs.
