In what could be one of the most startling moves ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson could be leaving his current franchise. This comes after reports of a blockbuster trade deal between RR and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
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The rumours, which began several months ago at an event where Samson shared the stage with MS Dhoni, are now coming true. According to reports, only a few formalities remain before the official announcement.
Will Sanju Samson play for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026?
Latest reports suggest that CSK may have finalised the trade deal to bring in the experienced wicket-keeper-batter Samson to Chepauk.
CSK will trade for Samson by sending two of their star all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, to RR in a blockbuster trade.
Samson has been a part of the RR franchise since 2013 and has even captained the side to the finals in 2022. He has also been a prolific batter for the side and is the leading run-scorer for the franchise with 4,027 runs.
Timeline of Samson to CSK trade rumours
The rumours of Sanju Samson's move to the Chennai Super Kings kicked off early in February 2025, when he was seen sharing the stage with Thala MS Dhoni during the launch event of the 'Dhoni App'
Let's take a look at the detailed timeline of how things unfolded:
February 2025 - Dhoni and Samson share the stage as the rumours kick off
Dhoni and Samson shared the stage at the launch of the Dhoni App. At the same event, Samson imitated Rajnikanth, which won over the Tamil fans. The goodwill between the CSK legend and RR captain was visible during the interaction.
July 2025 - Samson reportedly reveals desire to leave Rajasthan Royals
Reports emerged that Sanju Samson has expressed his desire to leave the Royals' franchise, which further intensified rumors about his potential move to CSK.
August 2025 - Samson laughs off questions regarding his trade on the Ashwin podcast
- Sanju burst into a big laughter when Ashwin asked him about the speculations of his trade and did not make any comment on the matter.
- The video quickly went viral as the fans suggested his reaction to be a sign of his rumoured switch to the five-time champions
September-October 2025 - CSK to bring in Samson?
- Samson was linked with multiple franchises from Delhi Capitals to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), with CSK as the front-runner for a trade deal with the Rajasthan Royals. His move made sense as a wicket-keeper, making him an ideal replacement for the ageing MS Dhoni.
November 2025 - Samson trade swap for Ravindra Jadeja becomes strong
Reports strongly suggest that the trade deal between the Rajasthan Royals and the Chennai Super Kings has been finalised. As per these reports, Sanju Samson will move to CSK, while Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran will be traded to RR.
November 11, 2025 - CSK wishes Happy Birthday to Sanju Samson
- CSK posts a heartfelt birthday message for Samson, further fueling the speculation.
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