Sanju Samson Bids Farewell to Rajasthan Royals, Embarks on New CSK Journey
In a blockbuster move that has sent shockwaves through the Indian Premier League, Sanju Samson has officially ended his decade-long association with Rajasthan Royals to join the Chennai Super Kings. The high-profile trade marks the end of an era for both the franchise and the player, who had become synonymous with the Jaipur-based team.
The Trade Details and Financial Implications
The trade agreement saw CSK acquire Samson at his existing price of ₹18 crore, while parting with two key players to balance the deal. Former CSK captain Ravindra Jadeja saw his league fee revised from ₹18 crore to ₹14 crore as part of the arrangement, while English all-rounder Sam Curran will move to Rajasthan Royals at his existing price of ₹2.4 crore.
This significant player exchange comes after what appeared to be growing differences between Samson and the Royals management, ultimately leading the established star and captain to seek a new franchise. The move was finalized through an official league statement, confirming one of the most talked-about transfers in recent IPL history.
Samson's Emotional Farewell to Rajasthan Royals
Taking to social media, Samson reflected emotionally on his time with Rajasthan Royals, stating he gave the franchise his all but felt it was the right "time to move on." In his heartfelt Instagram post, the wicketkeeper-batter wrote: "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."
Samson had been the face of Rajasthan Royals for over a decade, representing the franchise across 11 seasons since joining in 2013. His remarkable journey saw him become a key player who was retained ahead of the 2014 auction at just 19 years of age. During his tenure, he amassed 4,027 runs for RR, led them to the final in 2022, and recorded a career-best season of 531 runs in 2024.
Realizing the Dream: Playing Alongside MS Dhoni
In a revealing video posted by Star Sports on X, Samson shared his long-standing dream of being close to veteran Indian cricketer MS Dhoni. "As every young Indian cricketer, I wanted to be around MS Dhoni," Samson expressed. "Every single time you meet him, every single time you know that you're going to play against CSK, it's like you want to sit with Mahi bhai, talk to him, understand how he does things. Even just sitting around him was a dream as a young cricketer."
The Kerala-born cricketer recounted how he waited until his eighth IPL year to properly meet Dhoni, wanting to first prove himself by performing well against CSK. "I waited to help my side win a match against the CSK. I made some runs and won the POTM. After that, I went and met him. After that, my relationship has been going upwards. It has been a very blessed feeling. I have done shoots with him. It feels like a dream," he added.
This move to Chennai Super Kings not only represents a fresh start for Samson but also fulfills his childhood aspiration of learning from and playing alongside his idol, MS Dhoni. The transition marks a significant chapter in both Samson's career and the evolving dynamics of team compositions in the upcoming IPL season.
