Sanju Samson has officially joined Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2026. His arrival has created a lot of buzz. He reached Chennai and joined the team camp before the season, which starts on March 28. CSK even welcomed him on social media with posts calling him “Chettan in Chennai.”
This move happened through a big trade. CSK brought in Samson from Rajasthan Royals, while Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran went the other way.
Samson is expected to play a key role this season. He will likely open the batting, possibly alongside young player Ayush Mhatre. With CSK having a younger squad this time, his experience adds balance.
There’s also a chance he could take over wicketkeeping duties in some matches if needed, especially to support MS Dhoni.
Samson himself sounded excited about joining CSK. He said he has already spoken with Dhoni and is looking forward to spending time with him, learning from him, and sharing the dressing room for around two months.
He also mentioned that he always felt positive around Dhoni and is happy to now be part of the team. He even talked about the strong support he got from Chennai fans earlier and said he will give his best for them.
CSK will start their IPL 2026 campaign against his former team Rajasthan Royals, which adds extra interest to his first game for the franchise.
Sanju Samson Seen as Future Leader at Chennai Super Kings as Anil Kumble Backs Vice-Captain Role
Sanju Samson could take on a bigger leadership role at Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026.
Former India captain Anil Kumble believes Samson is a strong option for vice-captain. The reason is simple – he has already led Rajasthan Royals for many years. So handling leadership responsibilities is natural for him.
At CSK, the main captain is still Ruturaj Gaikwad, but there are questions about long-term leadership, especially with MS Dhoni nearing the end of his career.
Kumble suggested that if Gaikwad is unavailable for any reason, Samson could step in instead of Dhoni. That shows how the team may slowly shift responsibilities to the next group of leaders.
Samson is a calm wicketkeeper-batter who can guide the team, similar to how Dhoni has done for years. His recent form and confidence also make him a strong addition.
Faf du Plessis Says Sanju Samson Exit Leaves Big Gap for Rajasthan Royals
Faf du Plessis shared a strong view on Sanju Samson moving from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings for IPL 2026.
He said Samson had become the “face” of Rajasthan Royals over the last decade. In simple terms, when people thought of RR, they thought of Samson, just like teams are often linked with players like MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, or Virat Kohli.
Because of that, du Plessis feels RR losing Samson is a big moment, not just for the team but also for fans and the league. It leaves a gap in the squad, both in terms of performance and identity.
He also pointed out how this affects Yashasvi Jaiswal. Earlier, Jaiswal could play freely because Samson was consistently scoring runs. Now, with Samson gone, more responsibility may fall on Jaiswal, which could change how he approaches his game.
At the same time, RR have added Sam Curran, and du Plessis sees that as a positive. He explained that Curran brings balance to the team. He can bat in tough situations, bowl in different phases like powerplay and death overs. Sanju also offer leadership support in a young team setup.
FAQs
Q. Which team did Sanju Samson join for IPL 2026?
A. Sanju Samson joined Chennai Super Kings.
Q. How did CSK get Sanju Samson?
A. They got Sanju Samson in a trade from Rajasthan Royals.
Q. What role will Sanju Samson play in CSK?
A. Sanju Samson is expected to open batting and may also keep wickets when needed.
Q. Can Samson become a leader in CSK?
A. Yes, Anil Kumble said Sanju Samson can be a vice-captain and future leader.
Q. What did Faf du Plessis say about his move?
A. Faf du Plessis said Samson leaving RR is a big loss and creates a gap in the team.
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