‘Gave my everything’: Sanju Samson reflects on RR stint after CSK move

Dubai: Sanju Samson has said an emotional goodbye to Rajasthan Royals after spending 10 years with the franchise, following his move to Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. For someone who grew up in the league wearing RR’s pink, the trade marks a huge moment in his career — and he made sure to honour the team that shaped him.

Samson, now one of the IPL’s most experienced players with 177 matches, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, writing that he had “given everything” to the Royals and built relationships he will carry for life. “When it’s time… I am moving on,” he wrote, adding that he will “always be grateful” to the franchise and its people.

For fans, Samson’s departure closes a long chapter. Since debuting for RR in 2013, he became one of their most reliable performers and later their captain, guiding a young squad and emerging as the face of the team.

But with CSK now his next home, Samson opened up about another personal dream — to be close to MS Dhoni. Speaking in a video shared by Star Sports, he admitted that as a young cricketer he would get excited just knowing he was playing against Dhoni’s CSK.

“Every single time you know you’re going to play against CSK, you want to sit with Mahi bhai and understand how he does things,” he said.

He recalled finally meeting Dhoni properly in his eighth IPL season — after scoring match-winning runs against CSK and earning the Player of the Match award. “After that, my relationship with him has only gone upwards,” he said, calling it a “blessed feeling.”

Now, as Samson steps into the yellow of CSK, he not only begins a new professional chapter but also moves closer to a mentor he has admired for years — making his latest career shift both emotional and deeply meaningful.