Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson is set to embark on a bold new journey in the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) after playing a key role in the team’s T20 World Cup 2026 win on home soil. Sanju Samson joins Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in trade deal with Rajasthan Royals (RR).
CSK have sent Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals in a bid to bring Samson on board ahead of the last auction. The Kerala star was the face of RR for years. He led them, built the team and took on great responsibility.
Now, he moves into a new dressing room where Ruturaj Gaikwad is the captain and MS Dhoni still rules the setup like no one else. And this is where the real drama begins.
MS Dhoni vs Sanju Samson for wicketkeeping role
Sanju Samson is a wicketkeeper-batsman, but Dhoni is still available for the entire season. So, the big question is: who will keep wicket for CSK? Chennai offers Samson a huge fan base, a strong system and a winning culture.
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Playing in Chepauk will test Samson’s skills, but it will also give him a chance to shine on the biggest stage and take things to the next level. However, the role of the Indian wicketkeeper is not clear.
Meanwhile, legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble said that Indian cricket keeps moving from one big star to another. Kumble feels CSK have made a smart move by selecting Samson, highlighting strong performances during India’s T20 World Cup 2026 victorious campaign.
Anil Kumble calls Sanju Samson perfect fit for Chennai Super Kings
Anil Kumble was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying on Star Sports: “Icons in Indian cricket from one generation to the next, from Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin, then Virat, MS Dhoni has also been a part of that era. Before the change in MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, you had people like Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, who still retain that aura and continue to perform.”
In this respect, Sanju’s arrival is a great step for CSK. The icing on the cake is that he had great form in the IPL and won the World Cup for India with three consecutive innings.
Meanwhile, Samson was born in Kerala and speaks Tamil, making it easy for CSK fans to connect with him. Kumble said, “I’m sure it will definitely contribute to the fan following of the franchise. From Chennai’s perspective, he suits their needs, born in Kerala and speaks Tamil, so there’s a connect; he’s a wicketkeeper-batsman, so similar to MS; and his experience will be valuable for CSK.”
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Anil Kumble calls Sanju Samson deal a smart move for CSK
He believes that Sanju Samson is perfect for a supporting role like vice-captain at Chennai Super Kings. Kumble said that he has already captained Rajasthan Royals for many years, so he knows how to lead, and CSK needs someone like him as they had captaincy problems earlier too when Ruturaj Gaikwad got injured and MS Dhoni had to take over the captaincy again.
Now Ruturaj will remain the captain, but Sanju will support him. He can also take charge if needed. Kumble also feels that Sanju may also get a chance to do wicketkeeping during the season.
He signed off by saying, “I wouldn’t be surprised if MS Dhoni gave the keeping role to Sanju at some point during the season. He will be part of the leadership group, and if Ruturaj is unavailable due to injury or any other reason, Sanju will probably take over instead of MS.”
