Can Sanju Samson join CSK for IPL 2026? Detailing how the wicket-keeper batsman can leave RR and join Chennai Super Kings

Mayank Bande

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Can Sanju Samson join CSK for IPL 2026? Detailing how the wicket-keeper batsman can leave RR and join Chennai Super Kings image

India T20I opener, Sanju Samson, was the first player who was retained by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the auctions for the Indian Premier League 2025 season for 18 crore with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

However, the season did not go as planned for the wicketkeeper-batter as he played the first three games as an impact player due to a finger surgery ahead of the IPL and missed more games due to a side strain.

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In the games that he missed, Vaibhav Suryavanshi grabbed the opportunities with both hands and impressed everyone around the league and the fans.

On the other hand, the Chennai Super Kings are also on the lookout for a leader figure and a wicketkeeper to be the successor of MS Dhoni, leading to speculation of Samson to CSK in 2026. Explore more below.

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Is Sanju Samson moving to CSK in 2026?

As the season 2025 ended with both RR and CSK finishing their tournaments prematurely at 9 and 10 on the points table, respectively, the talks about the rebuild began

With RR needing funds after finding an opener in the 14-year-old and a potential future captain in Riyan Parag or even Yashasvi Jaiswal, freeing up Samson's 18 crore might help.

On the other hand, CSK's two big issues of their next captain and wicketkeeper would end if they manage to swoop in Samson.

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These rumors started to spread after Sanju Samson's manager liked a social media post that wrote about CSK already approaching Samson for 2026 where he could end his 12-year-long association with the Jaipur-based franchise.

See the post below:

How has Sanju Samson performed for the Rajasthan Royals?

In his association with RR since 2013, he has scored 4219 runs for them in 155 matches, where he has 26 fifties and 2 hundreds to his name as their all-time top scorer with a gulf of over 2000 runs with their next current player in Yashasvi Jaiswal.

InningsRunsAvg/SRHighest50/100
150421931.96/140.5311926/2

Mayank Bande

Mayank Bande has been a content producer at The Sporting News since 2023 and has extensive experience in cricket writing. His work has previously appeared on platforms like OneCricket and Last Word on Sports. Beyond cricket, Mayank closely follows football as an FC Barcelona supporter, along with tennis and Olympic sports. Despite holding a degree in Business Administration, he chose to pursue a career in sports, bringing sharp analysis to his writing as someone who once played cricket.