CSK Eyes Sanju Samson: Rajasthan Royals Could Demand Jadeja or Ashwin in Trade Deal, Expert Says

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has weighed in on the swirling rumors of a potential trade involving Sanju Samson from the Rajasthan Royals (RR) to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Chopra highlighted reports suggesting that multiple Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, particularly CSK, are interested in acquiring Samson ahead of the IPL 2026 season.

He suggested that RR might demand a high-profile player like Ravindra Jadeja in return if discussions with CSK progress.

Image: Speculation arises about Sanju Samson potentially joining CSK for the IPL 2026 season.

Rajasthan Royals' Valued Assets

According to PTI, approximately six Rajasthan Royals players have garnered interest from other franchises since the trading window opened on June 4, 2025, following the IPL final. The window will remain open until one week before the 2026 player auction and will reopen after the auction, closing one month before the new season begins.

"Will this trade happen? CSK have expressed interest, but they haven’t reached the stage of talks where potential trade names have been discussed. Rajasthan may want either Ashwin or Jadeja in return. It’s well within their rights to ask, if the trade ever progresses that far," Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.

Samson has been a pivotal figure for the Royals since 2018, following a stint with Delhi Capitals. Rajasthan retained him as their first-choice player, investing ₹18 crore to keep him ahead of the mega auction last year.

Emerging Talents in Rajasthan Royals

The team now boasts a wealth of batting options. Dhruv Jurel, a reliable wicketkeeper-batter, has made a mark on the international stage. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old prodigy, emerged as a standout performer in IPL 2025. Vaibhav opened the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the latter stages of the season, shifting Samson to the middle order.

With Samson becoming an opener for the Indian national team, a move to CSK presents intriguing possibilities.

Samson: A Fit for Chennai Super Kings?

Chopra speculated that Samson could be a successor to MS Dhoni as a wicketkeeper-batter at Chennai Super Kings, a team seeking a long-term replacement for their iconic captain.

CSK, who finished at the bottom of the IPL 2025 table, signed Urvil Patel, an uncapped wicketkeeper-batter from Gujarat, as a replacement player. While Patel, along with youngsters Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis, showed promise in the latter half of the season, questions linger about his readiness to fill Dhoni’s shoes.

"A CSK official has said they are interested and keen. They feel it would be great to have Samson because he’s a keeper-batter, and they need to plan beyond MS Dhoni. So he could be a very good option," Chopra said.

"In my original picks, I’d considered Dhruv Jurel as well. I even thought about Rishabh Pant. This team needs a wicketkeeper-batter — and it’s not Urvil Patel. They need someone with pedigree, experience, and a bigger name. If you’re carrying forward MS Dhoni’s legacy, you need a player of that calibre," he added.

Dhoni has yet to confirm his participation in the 2026 season. The veteran cricketer, who will turn 45 next year, said he was in no rush to decide on his future after the 2025 campaign. Nevertheless, CSK must prepare for a future without Dhoni.