Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain and wicketkeeper Sanju Samson has been heavily linked to a move away from the pink city, with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) eyeing the services of the star player.
A trade or release in the upcoming mini-auction would mean Samson and RR would end their 13-year-long association, which saw him become their all-time highest run-scorer.
In the season that went by, the Royals finished 9th on the points table, with 4 wins and 10 losses. They were only above the Super Kings, who lagged behind only on the virtue of the net-run rate.
However, Samson's absence in the five matches saw the rise of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, adding depth to RR's opening option.
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Additionally, the presence of Dhruv Jurel would cover for Samson's absence, in case he joins CSK after a trade deal.
As the possibility of a trade deal between CSK and RR for the Kerala star rises, TSN explores the reasons that make this a perfect deal for the men in yellow and the player.
Three reasons why Samson should join the CSK ahead of IPL 2026:
1. Long-term MS Dhoni replacement:
The five-time IPL champions are on the lookout for someone potent enough to keep the wickets with good game awareness as a replacement for MS Dhoni, who would be pushing 45 in IPL 2026.
The 30-year-old player joining CSK would solve their wicketkeeping problem for at least the next two full cycles and beyond, if he continues to play in his late 30s.
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2. Captaincy option:
Ruturaj Gaikwad has had a couple of below-par seasons as the captain of the Super Kings, where they failed to make it to the playoffs.
Samson is a seasoned captain with a 49.25% win percentage with RR, while also reaching the 2022 final.
3. New Challenge for Samson:
After over a decade of association with the Royals, the batter could be looking for a new challenge, especially in a well-drilled CSK unit that knows how to win the competition.
He could become a part of the environment that backs experience and also win his first IPL trophy with them.
Additionally, he can also be their solution for the opening slot, where they are lacking in quality options.
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Samson can also mentor the young Ayush Mhatre, who caught a lot of attention with his range and effortlessness in his first IPL season at just 17.