From rumour to resolution: Kerala star Sanju Samson’s next IPL move is sealed

Dubai: Sanju Samson’s future with Rajasthan Royals had been the subject of intense speculation following the conclusion of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. After a subdued season with the bat and a limited role in the latter stages, the Royals skipper was linked with a possible move to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) — even as some reports hinted at a leadership switch to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

But with Mahendra Singh Dhoni publicly reaffirming CSK’s faith in their current set-up — and Ruturaj Gaikwad expected to return from injury — any serious talks around Samson heading to Chennai appear to have been shelved. According to a Times of India report, Samson will continue to lead Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026.

“RR have decided not to trade Samson or any of their players for now. Samson is very much a part of the Royals set-up and the undisputed captain of the team,” the newspaper quoted a source as saying.

Samson, 30, has been a long-time servant of the Royals, first turning out for the franchise in 2013. He spent two seasons with Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) during RR’s two-year suspension before returning to the pink-and-blue jersey and eventually taking over as captain.

Talk of a possible transfer gathered steam after CSK’s disappointing campaign in IPL 2025. The five-time champions finished at the bottom of the table — a rare low for the storied franchise. Dhoni, who had handed the reins to Gaikwad, was forced to resume captaincy midway through the season after the latter suffered an injury.

Speaking at a private event in Coimbatore recently, Dhoni acknowledged CSK’s struggles but sounded upbeat about their plans for 2026. “I won’t say we slacked off [in IPL 2025],” he said. “But there were definitely a few gaps that needed fixing. With a mini-auction scheduled for December, we’re aiming to address those issues.”

He was more pointed in Chennai, where he reiterated the importance of Gaikwad’s return. “We had concerns around our batting line-up,” Dhoni said. “But things are shaping up well now. Rutu will be back from injury, which will make a big difference. So we’re feeling more settled.”

While the speculation around CSK eyeing Samson as a successor has not been officially addressed by either franchise, Dhoni’s comments — paired with the Royals’ reaffirmation — suggest that the move is off the table for now.

Dhoni also reflected on the team’s overall performance over the last two seasons. “We haven’t been at our best. But what matters is learning from it. We had to ask ourselves: what went wrong? And I believe we’ve mostly been able to identify the issues.”

He concluded with a familiar note of resilience. “In sports, you go through highs and lows. At CSK, we’ve generally been on the higher side. We believe in processes, but we also want results. Last season didn’t go our way, but we’re working hard to fix things. Hopefully, we’ll be back to our best next year.”

For now, it appears Samson remains at the heart of the Royals’ plans — and the Dhoni chapter in Chennai has one more page left to turn.