Sanju Samson’s Possible Move from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings: What We Know So Far – One of the biggest talking points ahead of the IPL 2026 auction is the possible transfer of Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals (RR) to Chennai Super Kings (CSK). While nothing has been confirmed yet, several reports suggest that early discussions have taken place between the franchises and the players involved.
As per ESPNcricinfo, both RR and CSK will need to submit an expression of interest to the IPL Governing Council, listing the three players who could be part of the deal. Once the players provide written consent, the franchises can finalize the move, which would then need approval from the governing council.
Sanju Samson’s Long Journey with Rajasthan Royals
Sanju Samson has been the face of the Rajasthan Royals for over a decade, playing 11 seasons for the franchise. According to The Times of India, if Samson does end up leaving, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal are being considered as possible candidates to take over the captaincy.
Sanju Samson joined RR in 2013 and quickly became one of their most important players. He was even retained ahead of the 2014 season when he was just 19. After RR’s two-year suspension in 2016 and 2017, he returned in 2018 and took over the captaincy in 2021.
Under his leadership and the guidance of team director Kumar Sangakkara, RR reached the IPL final in 2022, their first since winning the inaugural edition in 2008.
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Sanju Samson has led RR in 67 matches, winning 33 and losing 33. His best IPL season came in 2024 when he scored 531 runs at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.47. He was retained for Rs 18 crore ahead of the 2025 season, but an unfortunate side injury midway through the tournament ruled him out of the second half. Without him, RR struggled to find form and ended up finishing ninth out of ten teams.
Sanju Samson remains RR’s all-time leading run-scorer with 4,027 runs. He also shares the record for most 50-plus scores (25) and holds the record for the most catches (149) for the team. After the 2025 season, Samson reportedly told the RR management that he wanted a change, prompting them to explore trade options.
Ravindra Jadeja’s Long-standing Connection with CSK
On the other side of this potential swap is Ravindra Jadeja, who has been one of Chennai Super Kings’ most vital players since joining them in 2012. Apart from the two years when CSK were suspended, Jadeja has been part of their core group for over a decade, helping the team win three of their five IPL titles.
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Ahead of the 2025 mega auction, CSK retained him for Rs 18 crore as their second-choice player after captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. The all-rounder has played 254 IPL matches, the fifth-most in the league’s history, and is CSK’s leading wicket-taker with 143 wickets, including a best of 5 for 16.
Jadeja’s most iconic IPL moment came in the 2023 final, when his last-over heroics against the Gujarat Titans sealed the title for CSK. That year was also his best with the ball, taking 20 wickets, followed by another strong performance in 2025 when he scored 301 runs with two half-centuries.
Interestingly, Jadeja actually began his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals back in 2008 as a 19-year-old. He was part of their championship-winning squad that year and played for them in the first two seasons. In 2010, however, he was suspended for trying to negotiate directly with Mumbai Indians, which violated IPL rules. He returned the following year, playing for Kochi Tuskers Kerala before eventually joining CSK.
Sam Curran’s Bumpy IPL Ride
England all-rounder Sam Curran has also had quite a roller-coaster career in the IPL. He started with Punjab Kings in 2019, then played for CSK in 2020 and 2021 before returning to Punjab in 2023, where he became the most expensive IPL player ever at Rs 18.5 crore.
In 2025, CSK brought him back for Rs 2.4 crore. That season, Curran managed 114 runs and took just one wicket in five matches, a quiet performance by his standards, but his potential still keeps him in the conversation for future plans.
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