New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have reportedly confirmed their interest in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson and are open to welcoming the wicket-keeper batter to their fold. Speculations have been rife about CSK looking to trade Samson from the Royals in a direct transfer or a player swap ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
As per a report in Cricbuzz, there is some truth to the rumours as CSK’s management is interested in securing Samson’s services if the wicket-keeper batter is open to a move away from RR. Samson has been part of the Rajasthan Royals squad since 2018 in what is his second stint with the franchise. The Team India star has been leading the franchise since 2021 and has been one of their most consistent performers with the bat.
A senior CSK official confirmed that there is interest in principle from the five-time champions to trade Samson from the Rajasthan Royals, however, no concrete dialogues have taken place yet between the two franchises about the structure of the deal. CSK have also not yet made up their mind on which player they will trade with RR in case of a swap deal.
“We are definitely looking at Sanju. He is an Indian batter, who is a keeper and an opener. So if he is available, we will certainly have a look at the option of having him in our fold. Who we will trade him with we have not taken that call because the matter has not gone that far. But yes, in principle, we are interested,” a CSK official was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
As per rumours, CSK might move R Ashwin the other way in a deal for Samson from the Rajasthan Royals, while there is also speculation about RR being interested in trading middle-order batter Shivam Dube from the five-time champions as part of Samson’s trade. However, it remains to be seen how the two franchises will structure the trade deal if it materialises.
CSK have been involved in a very few trade deals in the IPL over the years. They traded former India batter Robin Uthappa from Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2021 and went on to win the title in the following season, while using the veteran batter in the top order. The current trading window is open, and it remains to be seen if CSK will make a formal approach to the RR management for a deal to trade Samson.