The long trade saga of Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has been completed, as all parties have agreed to the player exchange deal, with Rajasthan Royals receiving Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
Add AllSportsPeople as a preferred news source
With this trade, Samson has ended his 12-year association with the Rajasthan Royals, after racking up 4219 runs in 155 matches, as their highest-ever run scorer, while also captaining them in 67 games.
As he makes his move to the Yellove Kingdom in the South, we explore CSK's wicketkeeping situation as the ever-present MS Dhoni is also set to enter his 19th Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
MORE: Official: Sanju Samson joins CSK from RR ahead of IPL 2026 season
Who will keep the wickets for CSK in IPL 2026?
The ever-present MS Dhoni has been the face of the franchise since its inception, and as he approaches 45 with the 2026 season, CSK may have found its long-term successor.
With the recent introduction of the Impact Player (IP) rule, there is less burden on the five-time IPL-winning skipper's shoulders.
Samson's introduction would mean that he is a likely long-term successor for Dhoni at the Chepauk and could further establish himself under the former's direct guidance.
In the 2026 IPL season, we can potentially see Dhoni handing the baton to Samson, while sitting out in a few matches and selecting the others he needs to feature.
As things stand, there is no official word from the management on this but the duo might share the wicketkeeping duties for IPL 2026.
Dhoni vs Samson wicketkeeping stats in IPL
Ahead of IPL 2026, Dhoni is the league's best wicketkeeper with 201 dismissals to his name. The closest to him is Dinesh Karthik, who retired with 174 dismissals.
Sanju Samson is eighth in the list with 80 dismissals. He has also played as a fielder on numerous occasions, which is also a possibility in the upcoming season.
| Keeper | Innings | Catches | Stumping | Total dismissals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 271 | 154 | 14 | 201 |
| Sanju Samson | 114 | 63 | 17 | 80 |
RELATED LINKS:
- Virat Kohli IPL 2026 team, salary: Will the former India captain retire or look for a transfer?
- Explained: Why is 'Chetta era' trending after Sanju Samson trade to CSK
- IPL 2026 trade deals: Full list of player trades and cash deals ahead of IPL 2026 mini auction
- All the latest cricket news
- All IPL-related news