Sanju Samson to CSK? RR might want Jadeja or Ashwin in return, says ex-opener

India Today

3 days ago

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has acknowledged media reports suggesting that Sanju Samson has attracted trade interest from multiple Indian Premier League franchises — most notably Chennai Super Kings — ahead of the IPL 2026 season.Chopra, who is now a celebrated cricket pundit, said he would be keen to see how Rajasthan Royals respond to such offers, particularly if discussions with CSK materialise. He noted that Rajasthan may seek a high-profile player like Ravindra Jadeja in exchange.advertisementAccording to PTI, as many as six Rajasthan Royals players have drawn interest from rival franchises during the early stages of the trading window, which opened on 4 June — a day after the 2025 IPL final — and will remain open until a week before the 2026 players' auction. Following the auction, the trading window will reopen and close again exactly one month prior to the start of the new season.
"Will this trade happen? CSK have expressed interest, but they haven't reached the stage of talks where potential trade names have been discussed. Rajasthan may want either Ashwin or Jadeja in return. It's well within their rights to ask, if the trade ever progresses that far," Chopra said on his YouTube show.Samson has been the face of the Royals since rejoining the franchise in 2018 after a two-season stint with Delhi Capitals. Rajasthan made him their first-choice retention, paying Rs 18 crore to keep him ahead of the mega auction last year.advertisementHowever, the team now finds itself with a wealth of batting options. Dhruv Jurel, a reliable wicketkeeper-batter, has impressed at the international level, while 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi emerged as a breakout performer in IPL 2025. In the latter stages of the season, Vaibhav opened the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Samson moving to the middle order.With Samson now settling into the opener's role in the Indian national team, a potential move to CSK raises intriguing possibilities.SAMSON BEST OPTION FOR CSK?Amid the speculation, Chopra noted that Samson could be a natural successor to MS Dhoni as a wicketkeeper-batter at Chennai Super Kings — a franchise in search of a long-term replacement for their iconic captain.CSK, who finished bottom of the table in IPL 2025, had signed Urvil Patel — an uncapped wicketkeeper-batter from Gujarat — as a replacement player. Though he impressed alongside youngsters Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis in the latter half of the season, questions remain over his readiness to fill Dhoni's shoes."A CSK official has said they are interested and keen. They feel it would be great to have Samson because he's a keeper-batter, and they need to plan beyond MS Dhoni. So he could be a very good option," Chopra said.advertisement"In my original picks, I'd considered Dhruv Jurel as well. I even thought about Rishabh Pant. This team needs a wicketkeeper-batter — and it's not Urvil Patel. They need someone with pedigree, experience, and a bigger name. If you're carrying forward MS Dhoni's legacy, you need a player of that calibre," he added.Dhoni has yet to confirm whether he will play the 2026 season. The legendary cricketer, who turns 45 next year, said he was in no rush to decide on his future following the 2025 campaign. Nevertheless, CSK will need to begin preparing for a post-Dhoni era.- EndsMust Watch