For months, the silence was deafening. Sanju Samson had said nothing publicly about his departure from Rajasthan Royals, the franchise where he spent the better part of 11 IPL seasons, led them to the 2022 final, and became, by common consent, the face of the team. Speaking to the media in his home city of Thiruvananthapuram, the 31-year-old finally broke his silence and his explanation, when it came, was disarmingly simple.
“I left Rajasthan Royals because I felt my time in the team was over. Even if we come up against them now, I will play my best cricket,” Samson told PTI in a candid interaction, dressed in a black patterned kurta and traditional white dhoti a far cry from the match-day environment he has spent his career in.
The move, which was formalised through a trade deal that brought Samson to Chennai Super Kings for ₹18 crore with Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran heading in the other direction had set off intense speculation when it was first announced. Royals insiders had claimed at the time that Samson had expressed a desire to move on midway through the IPL 2025 season. The batter had chosen not to comment then. What is clear from his words now is that the decision came from within a personal sense of closure rather than any acrimony or external pressure.
The timing of his statement is particularly charged because CSK’s very first match of IPL 2026 is against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 in Guwahati. It will be the first time Samson faces the franchise he called home for so long, and the emotional undercurrents are unavoidable. He acknowledged as much, but drew a firm line at the dressing room door. “This is the first time I will play against Rajasthan Royals, but I don’t let emotions rule me on the field. But certainly, before and after the match there will be emotions there are players and support staff with whom I have shared a long association,” he said.
If the departure from Rajasthan marks the end of one chapter, what Samson is beginning at CSK is shaped in no small part by the presence of MS Dhoni. The prospect of sharing a dressing room with the most decorated captain in Indian cricket’s limited-overs history has clearly energised him. “I am really excited to be part of CSK. I had spoken to Dhoni bhai earlier and always had positive vibes. Spending close to two months with him will be a great opportunity to observe and learn from him,” he said.
Samson arrives at Chepauk carrying the momentum of a dream run. In India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, he emerged as the standout performer accumulating 321 runs from five matches at an average of 80.25 and a staggering strike rate of 199.37, with three half-centuries in must-win games: 97 not out against the West Indies in the virtual quarterfinal, and 89 each against England in the semi-final and New Zealand in the final. He was named Player of the Tournament.
That form and the adulation it generated has left an impression even in Chennai. “I was surprised by the support from the Chennai crowd during the World Cup. Maybe they see me as one of their own. I don’t want to disappoint them, and I will give my best for CSK,” he said.
For CSK, who endured their worst-ever IPL season in 2025 finishing bottom of the table with just four wins from 14 matches Samson’s arrival is more than just a transfer. He is a statement of intent. Alongside captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dhoni, Dewald Brevis, and the exciting Ayush Mhatre, Samson adds proven match-winning ability at the top of the order. The five-time champions will be desperate to rediscover the winning formula and the man from Thiruvananthapuram, with something to prove in yellow, may be exactly the catalyst they need.
