Social media has been flooded with rumours of Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson replacing MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) before the IPL 2026 season.
While there has been no word from any of the franchises yet, a report published in Cricbuzz claims that there is some substance to rumours of Samson's speculated move.
The wicketkeeper-batter has been with RR since their return to IPL after a two-year ban in 2018. The inaugural champions retained him before the IPL 2022 and 2025 mega-auctions.
The Royals signed Samson for the first time in 2013. The franchise appointed him as captain in 2021 and reached the final of the 2022 edition under his leadership.
Samson's journey with RR will end if he decides to move on to CSK. The five-time champions are exploring the option of signing the 30-year-old if he is available.
"We are definitely looking at Sanju. He is an Indian batter, who is a keeper and an opener. So if he is available, we will certainly have a look at the option of having him in our fold. Who we will trade him with we have not taken that call because the matter has not gone that far. But yes, in principle, we are interested," Cricbuzz quoted a CSK official as saying.
The report further stated that besides CSK, a couple of other franchises have also approached RR for Samson. Should Samson join CSK, he would be a direct replacement for Dhoni.
Dhoni, who will turn 44 next week, is at the fag end of his career and could quit the game after one or two seasons. He has been struggling with knee issues for the last few seasons and cannot bat for long.
"Yeah, it's a time thing. MS judges it. His body is, his knees aren't what they used to be. And he's moving okay, but there's still an attrition aspect to it. He can't bat 10 overs running full stick. So he will gauge on the day what he can give us. If the game's in the balance like today, he will go a little bit earlier, and he backs other players when other opportunities are up. So he's balancing that," CSK head coach Stephen Fleming had said during IPL 2025.
Dhoni played the 18th edition of IPL as an uncapped player after the Super Kings retained him for INR 4 crore before the grand auction. It remains to be seen which player or players CSK will trade to RR if they bring in Samson.
