The IPL witnessed one of the most high-profile transfer deals last week, involving Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR).

As part of the trade agreement, Sanju Samson joined CSK while the Royals received the services of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.

Samson, who moved to CSK at his existing fee of ₹18 crore, is excited to team with up the legendary MS Dhoni. The wicketkeeper-batter recalled how he was just 19 years old when he first met Dhoni and how he interacted with former Indian skipper for 10-20 days.

In his chats with other players who have been part of CSK, Samson also learnt that it is “one of the finest dressing rooms.”

The Chennai-based franchise has become Samson's third team of his illustrious 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).

“I have a lot of friends there. But there is a person there. Everyone knows him. There is a person called MS Dhoni. I met him when I was 19. When I was 19, I got selected in the Indian team for the very first time. I went for a UK tour. Mahi bhai was the captain. I saw Mahi bhai there for the first time. I interacted with him for 10-20 days. After that, I used to see him during IPL. There will always be a crowd in front of him. Five people here, 10 people there. Ok, I cannot meet here. I will have to meet him separately. I had such a desire,” Samson said on a video shared by CSK.

“Destiny has got to me and play with him in one dressing room. That couple of months. I’m very, very excited. Definitely, very genuinely excited to meet him and interact with him. Sit, have breakfast with him, practice with him, play matches with him, WOW! Just thinking about it makes me very happy. After that, I have a lot of friends,” he added.

“I have heard lots and lots of things, being a part of IPL from last 10 to 14 years, I think you have a lot of friends in other franchises. You are a part of the Indian dressing room. I’m not saying it because I have actually come to the CSK franchise. One thing I have heard from each and every Indian, domestic and international player is CSK is one of the finest dressing rooms. I have heard lots and lots of great things. I think I have not heard anything bad yet about CSK, I have hard lots and lots of great things. But I’m looking forward to experiencing it. Listening to stories definitely excite me as a person and cricketer. But I’m looking forward to experiencing it first-hand,” he further remarked.

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.