Samson completed a high-profile trade from RR to CSK ahead of the 2026 season.
Hours before the IPL 2026 retention deadline on November 15, the Sanju Samson–Ravindra Jadeja swap deal involving Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) was made official.
As part of the trade agreement, Samson joined CSK while the Royals received the services of Jadeja and Sam Curran.
CSK will be Samson's third franchise of his IPL career. Since making his IPL debut in 2013, the 31-year-old represented RR in all but two seasons—2016 and 2017—when he played for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).
In a video shared by CSK on social media, Sanju Samson shared his feelings on joining the five-time champions and donning their yellow jersey.
“I have been waiting for this day and I am very fortunate that I am going to wear the yellow jersey. As I said I am always in my dark colours. Like black, blue, brown but yellow I think, definitely a great feeling to wear that jersey. Never thought about how I will feel after wearing CSK. I felt very positive and I felt very happy. I felt very different. A different energy wearing that jersey. I felt like a champion,” Sanju said.
On the day of biding adieu, Sanju Samson had penned an emotional message for the Royals family on Instagram.
"We are only here for a short period of time. Gave MY everything to this franchise, enjoyed some great cricket,made some lifetime relations,treated everyone in the franchise as my family.. And when its time..I AM moving On. Shall always be grateful for everything @rajasthanroyals," Sanju wrote.
One of the most experienced players in the league, Sanju Samson has featured in 177 IPL matches, scoring 4704 runs at a strike rate of 139.04 with three hundreds and 26 half-centuries.
Samson's record as Rajasthan Royals captain is 33 wins and 33 losses in 67 matches, making him the most successful captain for the franchise. Under his leadership, the team reached their first IPL final since 2008 in 2022 and has qualified for the playoffs twice.