As the IPL 2026 auction approaches, the speculation around the Rajasthan Royals' skipper, Sanju Samson making a move to the Chennai Super Kings has spread like wildfire.
Speculations began after Samson shared an Instagram post captioned, "Time to MOVE..!!”, featuring a Tamil song and a yellow-highlighted image, sparking fan theories of a possible shift to CSK.
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Chennai Super Kings eye Samson as MS Dhoni’s potential successor in IPL 2026
With MS Dhoni turning 44 this July, there are doubts around his participation in next year's IPL. It is believed that Thala Dhoni may not continue and will retire before the start of the next season.
CSK are now actively in pursuit of a wicket-keeper batter who can fill the big shoes in the long run. Samson could well be the best bet for CSK.
At a recent event in San Francisco, Samson smiled and laughed through questions about CSK. Samson’s reaction suggests that he might be on his way out of Rajasthan Royals, hinting that the Buttler decision may not have sat well with the RR skipper.
According to a CSK official, the franchise is “definitely interested in Sanju Samson,” if he becomes available in the IPL 2026 trade window. The official shared with Cricbuzz, “He brings maturity, leadership, and flair. And we admire the way he has handled pressure with the Royals over the years.”
Sanju has been outstanding in his role as the Royals' skipper in recent seasons. Although he hasn't managed to win a title for his team, he has taken them to the playoffs on several occasions.
However, the 2025 season was not one that he and his side would be happy with. It was a season that troubled him with injuries allowing him to play just 9 games. His form with the bat also saw a dip as he scored only 285 runs in 9 innings at an average of 35.62.
When asked about the CSK's rumours, Sanju answered in a rather diplomatic manner. The Royals' skipper neither agreed nor denied the claims of him moving to CSK.
"Like every young Indian cricketer, I always wanted to be around MS Dhoni. Every time we played against CSK, I wanted to sit and talk to him, ask him how he does things. It was a dream for me,” Samson said on JioHotstar as a part of the 'SuperStar' programme.
All the eyes will now be on the IPL trade window. With Dhoni possibly in his last season, CSK is keen to bag an experienced Indian wicket-keeper. There were reports that other teams such as the Kolkata Knight Riders are also keen on trading Samson. All the frenzy around Sanju could well make him the biggest IPL 2026 trade window storyline.