Indian batsman and wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, who played with the Rajasthan Royals for more than 11 seasons, has disclosed extremely personal reasons for his abrupt departure. The Kerala cricketer’s move to the Chennai Super Kings before the 2026 Indian Premier League forced him to deal with difficult emotions, but it also let him to fulfil a cherished dream. Samson explained the thought process that led to one of the biggest franchise departures.
Sanju Samson found it difficult to make the decision to go. He has been with Rajasthan since 2013 and has led the team for five consecutive seasons beginning in 2021. At that time, he guided the team to their first championship game since 2008. Over his IPL career, Samson has scored over 4500 runs for a number of clubs. Even if it may feel like your own, loyalty to a single squad eventually has its limits.
After the 2025 season concluded, Sanju Samson felt that the lads had matured and he was no longer required to lead the squad. “Leaving RR was a very big decision for me,” he said. I think that after you play for a team for a while, you begin to feel like you belong there and that no one can take you off of it.
However, I’ve always understood that everyone has a finite amount of time at one location. After the IPL 2025 concluded, there came a time when I felt it was time to move on. You perform your part, and you move away. The boys and RR are prepared to play without Sanju Samson, I told myself.
I considered quitting at that point,” Sanju Samson remarked on JioStar’s Superstars.
Why did the Chennai Super Kings seem like the perfect venue?
CSK emerged as his clear choice after multiple teams expressed interest. The yellow shirt has a deeper meaning for Samson than the team itself. The availability of mentors, particularly Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and pre-existing connections with players like Ruturaj Gaikwad made the possibility seem like fate. Conversations with other players who had experienced the CSK culture strengthened his conviction even more.
“At the time, there were two or three choices. To be honest, though, I had excellent contacts because of CSK, Mahi bhai’s influence, the franchise itself, and my pals there, particularly Ruturaj. I thought this team was my kind based on what other players had told me about CSK.
I will benefit greatly if I go there. That was what I had hoped for, but a trade is difficult. Do they want me to go there? Additionally, the initial team must receive what they desire. Everyone must concur. It was a significant turning point. Fortunately, I made it to CSK. Sanju Samson remarked, “It was a wonderful feeling.”
The boyhood hero who satisfied every cricket-related wish
Dhoni was more than just a TV captain to the young Sanju Samson. He left a lasting impact with his boldness, aggressive intent, and on-field manner. Samson collected magazine clippings of his idol and wrote them in his diary, hoping that one day he might be able to share the crease with him. Because CSK is giving him the chance, his boyhood dream is now coming true.
“I was really drawn to the way he carried himself and his aggressive batting style.” I used to cut out his photo from the advertisements and put it in my journal. Every child has an idol, and mine was Mahi bhai. I used to watch India play every day when I was younger.
Mahi bhai would be winning games and serving as captain. “I have to play one day too,” I would think as I went to sleep. Sanju Samson said, “I used to dream of batting with him, forming a partnership, and fielding alongside him.”
An era at Rajasthan comes to an end with Sanju Samson’s transfer to CSK, and what might be his most successful IPL chapter begins. The team drastically altered their squad by trading Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja to acquire him.
