Chennai Super Kings had a forgettable outing in the Indian Premier League 2025 season as they finished at the bottom of the table with just eight points.
The five-time IPL champions registered just four wins out of 14 outings and recorded one of their worst-ever performances in the competition.
After a disappointing campaign in IPL 2025, CSK have already started to plan for the upcoming season and have started identifying players they could sign to bolster their squad ahead of IPL 2026.
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CSK official confirms interest in RR captain Sanju Samson
In what could prove to be a blockbuster move, CSK are keen on signing India international and Rajasthan Royals' star wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson ahead of the new season, according to Cricbuzz.
An official of the franchise has confirmed their interest to Cricbuzz, who said: "We are definitely looking at Sanju. He is an Indian batter who is a keeper and an opener. So if he is available, we will certainly have a look at the option of having him in our fold. Who we will trade him with, we have not taken that call because the matter has not gone that far. But yes, in principle, we are interested."
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The report further adds that while CSK's interest in Samson is on record, a few more IPL franchises are also keen on securing Samson's signature.
Who will CSK trade for Sanju Samson?
Now, the question that arises is which player the five-time champions would offer to RR in return for Samson.
The 30-year-old was Royals' no.1 retention ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction last year. Samson was retained for INR 18 crore. The ideal like-for-like trade-off would see CSK sending their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad the other way, but head coach Stephen Fleming had earlier mentioned that Gaikwad was handed over the team captaincy with a long-term vision.
The Chennai-based franchise are yet to approach Rajasthan with a formal offer and it remains to be seen if they approach RR in the coming months, while the trade window is still open.
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When does the IPL trade window open and close?
The trade window opened from 9 am, seven days after the IPL 2025 season concluded and will close at 5 pm on the date falling seven days before the IPL 2026 player auction.
How did Sanju Samson perform in IPL 2025?
Samson missed five out of RR's 14 league stage matches due to injury. In the nine matches he appeared in, the wicket-keeper batter scored 285 runs at an average of 35.63 and maintained a strike rate of 140.39. He scored only one fifty and his highest score in the tournament was 66.